Lois Gladys Leppard facts for kids
Lois Gladys Leppard (born in 1924, died October 5, 2008) was a famous American author. She is best known for writing the exciting Mandie series of children's books. Lois wrote her very first Mandie story when she was only eleven years old! But she didn't become a professional writer until she was an adult. Besides writing, Lois also worked as a singer, actress, and playwright. She even had a singing group with her two sisters, Sybil and Louise, called the Larke Sisters.
There are many Mandie books! The main series has forty books. There's also a junior series with eight books, plus other titles. Lois Leppard once said she could write a whole Mandie book in just two weeks if she wasn't interrupted.
The main character, Mandie, lives in North Carolina in the early 1900s. She goes on many adventures and solves mysteries. Her friends, family, and even her pet cat, Snowball, help her along the way. These books are fun to read and also teach important life lessons.
Lois Gladys Leppard based some of the stories in her Mandie books on her own mother's childhood. Her mother grew up in North Carolina. The first Mandie book is dedicated to her mother, Bessie A. Wilson Leppard, and her aunt, Lillie Margaret Ann Wilson Frady.
Mandie Books and More
Lois Gladys Leppard wrote many books, but the Mandie Series is her most famous work. She also wrote a shorter series called The Lily Adventures.
The Lily Adventures
- Secret Money (1995)
- Suspicious Identity (1995)
Mandie Movies
Some of the Mandie books have been made into movies! The first movie, called Mandie and the Secret Tunnel, came out on September 22, 2009. This movie was named after the very first book in the series.
The cast included Lexi Johnson as Mandie, along with Dean Jones and William Yelton. The company Kalon Media owns the rights to make movies based on Mandie and the Secret Tunnel. So far, two more Mandie films have been produced.
