Born in Amsterdam, Leo Lionni (1910-) was trained as an economist in Italy from 1931-1935.

He began his career in graphic designin 1933 as an art director for Motta, an Italian food supplier.
In 1939, he emigrated to the US and began work as an art director for N.W.Ayer advertising agency, where he stayed until 1947. In 1949, Lionni succeeded Will Burtin as art director of Fortune magazine.

While at fortune, Lionni developed a distinctive visual identity utilizing photography and illustration. Lionni was co-editor of Print magazine from 1950-1951 and in 1961 resigned his position as art director of Fortune.

Leo Lionni wrote and illustrated more than 40 highly acclaimed children's books. He received the 1984 American Institute of Graphic Arts Gold Medal and was a four-time Caldecott Honor Winner--for Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse. Leo Lionni died in October of 1999 at his home in Tuscany, Italy, at the age of 89.