Eleanor Coerr was a Canadian-born American writer, best known for her children's books, including the historical fiction Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes and numerous picture books.

Born Eleanor Page on May 29, 1922, in Kamsack, Saskatchewan, Canada, Coerr grew up in Saskatoon. Her fascination with Japan began in her childhood when she received a book titled Little Pictures of Japan one Christmas. It depicted children in beautiful kimonos, which inspired her dream of someday visiting Japan. Her best friend in high school was a Japanese girl, and through their friendship, Coerr was introduced to Japanese culture, including brush painting, eating with chopsticks, and origami.

Coerr began her professional career as a newspaper reporter and editor of a children's column. She also taught children's literature at Monterey Peninsula College and creative writing at Chapman College in California. For the last 25 years of her life, she dedicated herself to writing children's books, visiting schools across the United States to engage with young readers.

She passed away on November 22, 2010, in New York.