Dillon, Leo and Diane, a husband-and-wife team of American artists, became outstanding illustrators of children’s literature. The Dillons twice won the Caldecott Medal, an annual award for the best-illustrated children’s book. Their medal-winning books were Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears: A West African Tale (1975) and Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions (1976). In addition to children’s books, the Dillons illustrated adult science fiction, classics, and folk tales. They also collaborated on illustrations for magazines, book jackets, and record album covers. Their style ranges from realistic to abstract, often featuring bold and imaginative designs.
Diane was born Diane Claire Sorber on March 13, 1933, in Glendale, California. Lionel John Dillon was born on March 2, 1933, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, and died on May 26, 2012. The couple met in 1954 while studying art at the Parsons School of Design (now Parsons The New School for Design) in New York City and married in 1957.
