A prolific author who is often celebrated both for her versatility and for the diversity of her works, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor has written well-received books for children and young adults in a number of genres and styles. She is the creator of novels, short stories, picture books, and nonfiction for children as well as fiction and nonfiction for adults. As a writer for young people, Naylor has written books for children from preschool through high school in such genres as historical fiction, the gothic novel, the mystery story, the time-travel fantasy, and the problem novel; her works range from young adult novels that sensitively treat serious issues to humorous, lighthearted stories for younger children. She is perhaps best known as the author of Shiloh, a story for middle graders about a West Virginia boy and an abused dog that won the Newbery Medal in 1992.

As an author of...