Welcome to Illinois: A Little Engine That Could Road Trip

Watty Piper was a pen name of Arnold Munk, an owner of the publishing firm Platt & Munk. Arnold Munk was born in Hungary and, as a child, moved with his family to Chicago. He later moved to New York, where he died in 1957. Arnold Munk used the name Watty Piper as both an author of children’s books and as the editor of many of the books that Platt & Munk published.

Jill Howarth began her career as a senior designer and art director at Hasbro Toys, then transitioned into full-time illustration. Her previous illustrated children’s books include The ABCs of Christmas; 1-2-3, You Love Me; Jingle Bells; and The 12 Days of Christmas. She lives in Westborough, Massachusetts. You can visit her online at jillhowarth.com.