Munro Leaf wrote children’s books that use simple stories, humour and clear moral situations to examine behaviour without relying on complicated plots. The Story of Ferdinand, illustrated by Robert Lawson, follows a bull who prefers sitting quietly under a cork tree and smelling flowers to fighting with the other bulls. When he is mistakenly taken to Madrid for a bullfight, Ferdinand’s refusal to perform turns the story into a gentle argument for remaining true to one’s own temperament. Leaf also wrote books such as Manners Can Be Fun, which uses comic examples to explain everyday courtesy and social behaviour to children. His prose is plain, repetitive and designed for read-aloud clarity, while the illustrations often carry much of the comedy. His writing spans classic picture books, animal stories and early books about behaviour. The Story of Ferdinand remains Leaf’s defining book and the best example of how a simple character choice can carry the whole meaning of a children’s story. Read more Less
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