She wrote and illustrated seven children's books, including Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (1939) and The Little House (1943), which won the Caldecott Medal.

Burton founded the textile collective Folly Cove Designers in Cape Ann, Massachusetts, which had numerous museum exhibitions.

[3] When Burton was about 8 years old, her family moved to San Diego, California, as the New England winters were hard on her mother's health.

[6] In fall 1930, Burton enrolled in a Saturday morning drawing class taught by sculptor and artist George Demetrios at the Boston Museum School.

I and my friends thought it was very clever but thirteen publishers disagreed with us and when I finally got the manuscript back and read it to Aris, age three and a half he went to sleep before I could even finish it.

Her papers include the "numerous preparatory sketches, the reworking of illustrations that had not proven personally satisfactory to [her], and the demands for quality reproduction of the artwork [that] indicate her meticulous attention to detail."

It reflected the earlier Arts and Crafts Movement of the 19th century, "both in its union of design and production and in the formation as a cooperative guild.

The linoleum block print designs for domestic items were innovative and unique, bringing recognition and accolades to the group.

"[2] The group sold some of their textiles to major retailers such as Lord & Taylor, F. Schumacher, Rich's of Atlanta and Skinner Silks.

[10] Aristides Burton Demetrios was a sculptor of figurative and abstract works, ranging from large public commissions to private pieces for gardens.

Michael Burton Demetrios was a businessman, leading Marine World Africa in its numerous locations in the United States.