Frances Hodgson Burnett was born in Manchester, England, in 1849. She moved to America in 1865 after her father died and her family fell on hard times. There she began writing stories to earn money and soon became a successful novelist, playwright, and children's author. She wrote the classic novels, Little Lord Fauntleroy, A Little Princess and The Secret Garden.
Robert Ingpen was born in 1936 in Geelong, Australia, and still lives and works nearby in Barwon Heads.
In 1986 he was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for his contribution to children's literature and he has been honoured with Membership of the Order of Australia.