Florence Atwater

Florence Hasseltine Atwater (1899–1979) is the wife of Richard Tupper Atwater (1892–1948), who lived in Chicago and worked as a journalist, often writing humorous pieces for newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune. He wrote two books for children before beginning Mr. Popper’s Penguins, a 1939 Newbery Honor Book. Before he could finish the story, however, he became ill. Florence finished the book, helping launch a story that has remained popular for generations.