Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Encyclopedia
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (born January 4, 1933) is an American
author best known for her children and young adult fiction
books. Naylor is best known for her children's-novel
trilogy Shiloh (a 1992 Newbery Medal
winner), Shiloh Season and Saving Shiloh, all made into movies. She is also known for her "Alice" book series
; The Grand Escape, the short story
collection The Galloping Goat and Other Stories; The Witch Saga
; and a series of books, starting with The Boys Start the War
, about boys and girls pulling pranks on each other.
, Indiana
. She grew up during the Great Depression
. Her parents read stories to her when she was young. She began writing her own stories when she was in elementary school. She wrote short stories and articles before attempting to write a novel.
Naylor graduated from Joliet Township High School in 1951 and from Joliet Junior College
in 1953.
When she was 16 years old, a Sunday school teacher asked her to write a story for the church magazine
. Her first story called Mike’s Hero, was accepted and was published. She received $ 4.67 for her story. When she was 18 years old, she was married for the first time. After graduating from community college
, she and her then husband went to Chicago
. She worked as a clinical secretary in a university hospital during that time. She also worked as a elementary school
teacher
and editor
for a magazine.
Naylor returned to American University
and tried to obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree in clinical psychology
. Before going to graduate school, she decided to become a full-time author.
In 1960, she married Rex Naylor. Her first children's book called The Galloping Goat and Other Stories was published in 1965.
Naylor also wrote Shiloh, Saving Shiloh, Shiloh Season, The Boys Start the War, The Alice series, and The Girls Get Even.
s in the Best Juvenile Mystery category, for Night Cry (1984) and Bernie Magruder & the Bats in the Belfry (2003).
She has received 30 awards in all.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author best known for her children and young adult fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
books. Naylor is best known for her children's-novel
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
trilogy Shiloh (a 1992 Newbery Medal
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
winner), Shiloh Season and Saving Shiloh, all made into movies. She is also known for her "Alice" book series
Alice series
The Alice series is a [book series] written by [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]. There are three prequels to this series. The first one, Starting with Alice, describes Alice in third grade. Alice in Blunder land is Alice in fourth grade. The final prequel, Lovingly Alice, follows Alice through the...
; The Grand Escape, the short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
collection The Galloping Goat and Other Stories; The Witch Saga
The Witch Saga
The Witch Saga is a 6-part fantasy novel series by author Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. The books deal with supernatural forces, specifically; witchcraft. Witch's Sister, the first book in the series, was adapted into an episode of the television series, Big Blue Marble.-Characters:*Lynn Morley is an...
; and a series of books, starting with The Boys Start the War
The Boys Start the War
The Boys Start the War is the first of many novels in a series of children's books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. The series is centered on two families, the Hatfords, who have four sons, Jake, Josh, Wally, and Peter, and the Malloys, who have three daughters, Eddie, Beth, and Caroline...
, about boys and girls pulling pranks on each other.
Biography
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor was born in AndersonAnderson, Indiana
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is the principal city of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses Madison county. Anderson is the headquarters of the Church of God and home of Anderson University, which is...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. She grew up during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Her parents read stories to her when she was young. She began writing her own stories when she was in elementary school. She wrote short stories and articles before attempting to write a novel.
Naylor graduated from Joliet Township High School in 1951 and from Joliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College , a community college based in Joliet, Illinois, was the first public community college founded in the United States. JJC offers pre-baccalaureate programs for students planning to transfer to a four-year university, as well as occupational education leading directly to...
in 1953.
When she was 16 years old, a Sunday school teacher asked her to write a story for the church magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
. Her first story called Mike’s Hero, was accepted and was published. She received $ 4.67 for her story. When she was 18 years old, she was married for the first time. After graduating from community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
, she and her then husband went to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. She worked as a clinical secretary in a university hospital during that time. She also worked as a elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
for a magazine.
Naylor returned to American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
and tried to obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in clinical psychology
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
. Before going to graduate school, she decided to become a full-time author.
In 1960, she married Rex Naylor. Her first children's book called The Galloping Goat and Other Stories was published in 1965.
Naylor also wrote Shiloh, Saving Shiloh, Shiloh Season, The Boys Start the War, The Alice series, and The Girls Get Even.
Awards
She has received two Edgar AwardEdgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
s in the Best Juvenile Mystery category, for Night Cry (1984) and Bernie Magruder & the Bats in the Belfry (2003).
She has received 30 awards in all.