Syd Hoff was born and raised in New York City. He studied at the National Academy of Design and sold his first cartoon to The New Yorker when he was eighteen. He eventually became one of the most original and beloved authors and illustrators of children's books. Mr. Hoff wrote more than fifty books for children, including the I Can Read titles Danny and the Dinosaur, Oliver, and Sammy the Seal.

Syd Hoff was born and raised in New York City. He studied at the National Academy of Design and sold his first cartoon to The New Yorker when he was eighteen. He eventually became one of the most original and beloved authors and illustrators of children's books. Mr. Hoff wrote more than fifty books for children, including the I Can Read titles Danny and the Dinosaur, Oliver, and Sammy the Seal.