In 1889, Howard and Anne Pyle's oldest child, Sellers, died unexpectedly from an illness at home while they were in the Caribbean, where the artist was researching locales for his pirate illustrations. Six years later, Pyle wrote and illustrated The Garden Behind the Moon: A Real Story of the Moon Angel, a fantasy tale for children. It is the story of David, a young boy whose imaginary journey takes him from his earthly life to a place beyond the moon and back again. During David's magical experience, he tames a winged horse.