Harold Gaze

Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, Harold Gaze became known for writing and illustrating children’s fantasy. Sources agree that he studied art in England, spent part of his early career in Australia, and later settled in Pasadena, California, where he continued painting and making books.

He is best remembered for imaginative titles such as Coppertop, Goblin's Glen, The Merry Piper, and the Mite Merry books. His artwork often mixed fairies, odd little creatures, and a floating, theatrical sense of wonder, giving his stories a playful visual style as memorable as their plots.

Some details of his life vary across sources, including the exact birth and death years, so those dates are sometimes given differently. Several sources also say he worked for Disney Studios during his California years, though the specifics are not always fully documented in the material available here.