Kitty Barne (Marion Catherine Barne) (1882-1961) was an author of many children's books, often with a musical theme (she studied at the Royal College of Music) and won the Carnegie Medal in 1940 for Visitors From London. She was cousin in law to Noel Streatfield ad worked for the WVS in the war.

Here is a lovely quote about how she worked with her illustrators from Ruth Gervis who illustrated a number of her books:

To an illustrator, Kitty Barne was a most delightful author, not because she gave one a free hand, far from it, but because she knew exactly what she wanted and was so delighted when one caught her visual images. It was a true collaboration of author and artist. We would meet and then, her good ear towards me, her eyes shining, her face alive with interest, she would discuss her characters. I used to make dozens of quick sketches until I got them as she pictured them, helped by her interjections, `Oh, rather a higher forehead and even deeper set eyes` or 'oh, no you've made her far too nice, I think she is a horrid little girl.' We would laugh together over her amusing adults as she suggested incidents for me to sketch which would bring out their characteristics.

Chosen for Children, 1977.