Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924) grew up in England, but she began writing what was to become The Secret Garden in 1909, when she was creating a garden for a new home in Long Island, New York. Frances was a born storyteller. Even as a young child, her greatest pleasure was making up stories and acting them out, using her dolls as characters. She wrote over forty books in her lifetime.

Tasha Tudor's detailed, delicate artwork has been cherished by millions of readers. She illustrated nearly one hundred books, and received multiple awards and honors, including two Caldecott Honors.