Lucy Fitch Perkins

Born in Indiana in 1865, Lucy Fitch Perkins studied at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and began her career as an artist and teacher before becoming widely known as a children's author and illustrator. That visual background helped give her books their distinctive charm.

She is remembered above all for the Twins series, which began with The Dutch Twins in 1911. The series introduced young readers to children from different countries and time periods, making faraway places feel personal and approachable through story, daily detail, and illustration.

Perkins died in 1937 in Pasadena, California. Her work remains a notable part of early twentieth-century American children's literature, especially for readers interested in classic stories that tried to open a window onto other cultures.