Lily F. Wesselhoeft

Lily F. Wesselhoeft was an American children's author born on October 21, 1840, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and she died on January 31, 1919. She is also identified in library and book records as Elizabeth Foster Pope Wesselhoeft, and some sources note that she was married to the physician Dr. Conrad Wesselhoeft.

Her books were written for young readers and often centered on animals or fable-like adventures. Among the titles linked to her are Sparrow the Tramp, Jack, the Fire Dog, Old Rough the Miser, and The Fairy Folk of Blue Hill. The opening pages of Jack, the Fire Dog also name her as the author of Jerry the Blunderer and Doris and Her Dog Rodney, showing how strongly her work was associated with stories about animals and childhood.

Today, she is remembered mainly through reprints and public-domain editions of her fiction. Her stories still appeal to readers who enjoy classic children's books with kindness, imagination, and a fondness for the animal world.