 According to the National Museum of American Illustration, Smith is said by many to be the "greatest children's book illustrator" and her work has been compared to Mary Cassatt's for her endearing portrayal of children.Smith was a member of Philadelphia's The Plastic Club (founded 1897), an organization established to promote "Art for art's sake".Other members included Elenore Abbott, Violet Oakley, and Elizabeth Shippen Green.