The following essay examines the literary collaboration of Ann and Jane Taylor.

Goodness, humor, and a knowledge of children's foibles (and children's pleasure in reading about appropriate punishments) characterize the writing of Ann and Jane Taylor, the first well-known and widely read children's poets. In addition to their poetry, they published essays, short stories, reviews, an autobiography, and a "novel," but best remembered of all their works are Jane's classic poem "The Star" (1804) and Ann's affecting poetic tribute, "My Mother" (1806).

Ann was born in Islington on 30 January 1782 and Jane, in Holborn on 23 September 1783 to Ann Martin Taylor and Isaac Taylor, an engraver, painter, and minister; his 1791 portrait of his daughters hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, London. Edith Sitwell wrote that they appear in the portrait as "very serious-minded, good little girls."

Although Isaac and Ann Taylor disapproved of their daughters' desire to become authors, they were allowed...