Snyder, Zilpha Keatley

American author of children's books; Newbery Honor Book citations for The Egypt game (1967) in 1968, The headless cupid (1971) in 1972, and The witches of Worm (1972) in 1973.

American author of children's books; Newbery Honor Book citation for The Egypt game (1967) in 1968, The headless cupid (1971) in 1972, and The witches of Worm (1972) in 1973.

Zilpha Keatley Snyder was born May 11, 1927, in Lemoore, California. She graduated from Whittier College in 1948 and later studied at the University of California, Berkeley. She taught in public schools in California, New York, Washington, and Alaska between 1949 and 1962. In 1964, she published her first book for children, Season of Ponies, the story of a young girl whose life becomes more bearable with the help of an imaginary playmate and some horses. In 1968, she received a Newbery Honor Book citation for The Egypt Game. She also received two additional Newbery citations for The Headless Cupid (1971), and The Witches of Worm (1972). Her books feature both boy and girl protagonists and also have multi-racial and multi-ethnic characters. Several of her books contain elements of mystery; several also contain fantasy or historical fiction. Critics have praised her as an author who is attuned to the process of growing up, and as one who writes about children's fanciful worlds with a distinct charm and energy that carry readers in. They also laud her real and believable characters who just happen to have a touch of magic, and have a vivid life of imagination. Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vols, 1, 28, 75, 110, 112 Something About the Author Autobiography Series, vol. 2 Children's Literature Review, vol. 11.

Zilpha Keatley Snyder was born May 11, 1927, in Lemoore, California. She graduated from Whittier College in 1948 and later studied at the University of California, Berkeley. She taught in public schools in California, New York, Washington, and Alaska between 1949 and 1962. In 1964, she published her first book for children, Season of Ponies, the story of a young girl whose life becomes more bearable with the help of an imaginary playmate and some horses. In 1968, she received a Newbery Honor Book citation for The Egypt Game . She also received two additional Newbery citations for The Headless Cupid (1971), and The Witches of Worm (1972). Her books feature both boy and girl protagonists and also have multi-racial and multi-ethnic characters. Several of her books contain elements of mystery; several also contain fantasy or historical fiction. Critics have praised her as an author who is attuned to the process of growing up, and as one who writes about children's fanciful worlds with a distinct charm and energy that carry readers in. They also laud her real and believable characters who just happen to have a touch of magic, and have a vivid life of imagination.

Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vols, 1, 28, 75, 110, 112 Something About the Author Autobiography Series, vol. 2 Children's Literature Review, vol. 11