The Terrible Troll-Bird

Edgar Parin d'Aulaire (1898—1986) studied art in Germany and France, and worked with Henri Matisse. In Munich, he met Ingri Mortenson (1904—1980), a Norwegian-born art student. They married, emigrated to the US, and began a long career together, during which they published over twenty picture books for children. The Magic Rug was followed by Ola and East of the Sun and West of the Moon, both of which describe Norwegian folklore. Their work shifted to American history with Abraham Lincoln, a biography which won the 1940 Caldecott Medal. The d'Aulaires were awarded the Regina Medal from the Catholic Library Association in 1970.