Helen Cresswell has written dozens of books running the gamut from fantasy to the highly fantastical; even her most realistic works have something highly whimsical about them. While the prolific nature of her writings goes hand in hand with the variety of her themes, Cresswell has managed to maintain a high standard of quality throughout her career, winning many awards and pleasing children and young adults throughout the world. Perhaps some of her success is due to the respect she has for her audience. "I have a very strong sense of childhood," Cresswell admitted in Children's Books and Their Creators, "and like to be talking to human beings before they have become capable of pose or hypocrisy or prejudice."

Born in 1934, Cresswell had a childhood that was studded with pleasant times, but also haunted by the abuse she received at the hands of her father. One of her...