Charlotte Zolotow, nee Shapiro, was born June 26, 1915 in Norfolk, Virginia. She attended the University of Wisconsin from 1933-1936 and married Maurice Zolotow in 1938 and had two children. Ms. Zolotow worked as an editor at Harper and Row from 1938-1944 and 1962-1976; she also worked as vice-president and associate publisher of the Junior Books Division and as an editorial advisor. Ms. Zolotow published her first book, The Park Book in 1944 and continued to write books for young children for the next four decades. Two of her books, The Storm Book and Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present, were Caldecott Honor Books in 1953 and 1963 respectively.

Ms. Zolotow's works are noted for their sensitivity and simplicity. She is considered to have an uncanny gift for writing about what is truly important to the very young child with empathy and realism. Many of her works focus on "universal" truths and she has also dealt with several controversial topics including death and sex roles, the latter most notably in William's Doll, the story of a young boy who wants a doll and the wise grandmother who gives it to him, realizing it will help him be a good father later. Ms. Zolotow's books also place a strong emphasis on family relationships and heritage as well as an emphasis on nature and children's awareness and enjoyment of the outdoor world. While some critics have called her books "slight" most regard her stories as superior books for the very young that address children's concerns with understatement and empathy. In 1986, Ms. Zolotow received the Kerlan Award given by the Children's Literature Research Collection at the University of Minnesota.