Kay Thompson was an American author, singer, vocal arranger, and actress, best known as the creator of the popular 'Eloise' children's books. She began her career as a singer and vocal coach for MGM studios, working with stars like Judy Garland and Lena Horne. Her most enduring creation, Eloise, is a precocious six-year-old girl who lives in the 'tippy-top floor' of the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Thompson's whimsical writing and Hilary Knight's illustrations made the Eloise series a classic, beloved by generations of readers.