The Nurse Matilda books were written by the British children's author Christianna Brand (1907–1988) and illustrated by her cousin, Edward Ardizzone. The books are based on stories told to the cousins by their grandfather.They concern a hideously ugly nursemaid known as Nurse Matilda who has been highly recommended to Mr. and Mrs. Brown by several agencies. Nurse Matilda arrives at the household of the Brown family and becomes a nanny to the innumerable Brown children.