Tall Tales of America

Irwin Shapiro (1911-1981) was an American writer and translator of over 40 books, mostly for children and about Americana.
Born in 1911 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Shapiro studied at the Art Students League in New York City. During the Great Depression, he held odd jobs. He married Edna Richter, who worked in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and was an active member of the American Federation of Government Employees Union. She was also Moscow correspondent for the Daily Worker newspaper.
Shapiro turned to children's books, which he published for the vast majority of his career spanning several decades (1938-1979). His published titles included How Old Stormalong Captured Mocha Dick (1942); Steamboat Bill and the Captain's Top Hat (1943); The Gremlins of Liet. Oggins (1943); Yankee Thunder: The Legendary Life of Davy Crockett (1944); Casey Jones and Locomotive No. 638 (1944); John Henry and the Double Jointed Steam-Drill (1945); J. Fred Muggs (1955); Lassie Finds a Way: A New Story of the Famous Dog (1957); Jonathan and the Dragon (1962); and Gretchen and the White Steed (1972). He also adapted a number of works of classic literature into comic book form (illustrated by artists), including Tom Sawyer (1973) and Moby-Dick (1973).
Shapiro and his wife later moved to Florida, where he died in 1981.