Clare Turlay Newberry (1903-1970) was born in Eugene, Oregon. She studied art at the University of Oregon, School of the Portland Art Museum, the California School of Fine Arts, and La Grand Chaumière in Paris, France. She received the Caldecott Honor for four of her books: T-Bone, The Baby Sitter (1951); Marshmallow (1943); April's Kittens (1941); and Barkis (1939).
In Ms. Newberry's own words, "Every word of marshmallow is true, even to the drawing of them wrapped in each other's arms. I know people find this hard to believe, but the bunny was so little and was so convinced that Oliver was his mother, what could Oliver do but be his mother the best way he could?"