Louisa May Alcott was born on 29 November 1832 in Pennsylvania, and she grew up with plenty of books to read but seldom enough to eat. Louisa went to work when she was very young as a paid companion and teacher, but she loved writing most of all, and like Jo March she started selling sensational stories in order to help provide financial support for her family.

She worked as a nurse during the American Civil War but the experience made her extremely ill. Little Women was published in 1868 and was based on her life growing up with her three sisters. She followed it with three sequels, Good Wives (1869), Little Men (1871) and Jo's Boys (1886) and she also wrote other books for both children and adults. Louisa was also a campaigner for women's rights and the abolition of the slave trade. She died on 6 March 1888.

Francesca Rossi graduated from the International School of Comics in Florence and, in addition to illustrating books for several publishers; she also does artwork for book jackets and posters.

She also offers educational workshops to schools and libraries and creates and 'decorates ceramic art.

For White Star Kids she has illustrated; 'Who's Afraid of Witches?', Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?', 'Classic Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault', 'Fairy Tale Adventures', 'Woodland Fairy Tales' and 'Princess Fairy Tales' in the Puzzle Book Series.