Janet Harvey Kelman

Born in Leith, Scotland, on April 18, 1873, she grew up in a family shaped by church and public life. She became known as a writer and illustrator, creating books that introduced children to subjects such as trees, butterflies and moths, India, and stories from the Crusades in an accessible, lively way.

Her work often combined explanation with visual appeal, which helped make big subjects feel approachable for younger readers. Alongside her writing, she served as director of a YWCA training college in Selly Oak, Birmingham, showing a strong connection to education and service as well as literature.

She died on November 15, 1957. Today, she is remembered for informative children's books that reflect early twentieth-century curiosity about the natural world and the wider world beyond Britain.