Illustrator William “Willy” Pogany (1882-1955) was born in Szeged, Hungary and immigrated to the United States in 1914. He illustrated mostly children’s books, including a number of folktale and fairytale collections from around the world that featured motifs of mythical animals, nymphs, pixies and more. 

Commissioned by a children's theatre in Moscow to write a music symphony for children, in 1936 Sergie Prokoviev composed Peter and The Wolf, inspired by memories of his childhood. Peter and the Wolf tells the story of a young boy living deep in the woods with his grandfather and an array of animal companions. Although Peter and his friends want to go exploring, Peter’s grandfather warns him to stay within the garden gates since a terrible wolf is at large. But although Peter and his friends return to the safety of the garden, they still find themselves facing the dangerous creature all on their own.

The story of Henny Penny may also be known as that of Chicken Little, or Chicken Licken. It is a well-know tale: Henny Penny feels something fall on their back, and suddenly the sky is falling in. Versions of the story have existed for sometime in Europe, before being consolidated into one specific narrative by the Brothers Grimm. However, different versions of this story of mass-hysteria exists across the globe. The Daddabha Jataka is a story told by the Buddha where a hare is disturbed by some falling fruit into believing the world is ending. A similar story can be found about the trickster Br'er Rabbit in the American South. 

Paul Galdone (1907-1986) illustrated one of the best known American adaptations of the Chicken Little story. He was born in Budapest, Austria-Hungary and emigrated to the United States just after WWI in 1921. One of his better known works is the illustrations for Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus, which was the inspiration for the animated film The Great Mouse Detective.