Jon Scieszka totally failed to spring A. Wolf free with this story, but he did go on to write scads of subversive bestselling books, including The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. He also founded the literary initiative Guys Read and was appointed the first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

Lane Smith and his artwork did not help A. Wolf in his bid for freedom. If anything, that illustration of the dripping cheeseburger set back Mr. Wolf’s case. However, he did go on to accept a Carle Honor for Lifetime Achievement, two Caldecott Honor Medals, and four New York Times Best Illustrated Book awards.