Sue Alexander facts for kids

Sue Alexander (born August 20, 1933 – died July 3, 2008) was an American writer. She wrote many books for children. She also wrote stories for newspapers and magazines.

Sue Alexander reviewed children's books for the Los Angeles Times. She was a founding member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. This group helps new writers. Two awards were created in her name. These awards honor her work in teaching and guiding new authors.

Early Life and Learning

Sue Lynn Ratner was born in Tucson, Arizona. Her family was Jewish. She had one younger brother. When she was a baby, her family moved to Los Angeles. When she was five, they moved to Chicago.

Sue Lynn was small for her age. Her mother encouraged her to read a lot. She loved reading books. She also enjoyed telling stories and making up her own.

She studied at Drake University from 1950 to 1952. Then she went to Northwestern University for a year. She first wanted to be a journalist. But at Northwestern, she decided to study psychology. She left college to get married. Her first child, a son, was born in 1956.

After divorcing her first husband, she moved back to Los Angeles. In 1959, she married Joel Alexander. They had two more children, a son and a daughter.

Becoming a Writer

In 1967, Sue Alexander's mother passed away. This made Alexander want to do something special with her life. She started writing short stories for young readers.

Her stories appeared in the Los Angeles Times and Weekly Reader. Her first book, Small Plays for You and a Friend, came out in 1973. She published 26 books between 1973 and 2001.

Her most famous book was Nadia the Willful (1983). It tells the story of a Bedouin girl. The girl is sad because her brother has died. Alexander wrote this story because she felt sad about her own brother's death. Her father did not want to talk about it.

Another book, Lila on the Landing (1987), was about her childhood. It showed how lonely a girl can feel when friends don't accept her. Sue Alexander wrote in different styles, like realistic fiction and fantasy. She said that all her books share a common idea: "the importance of feelings."

Helping Other Writers

In 1968, Alexander became a founding member of the Society of Children's Book Writers. This group helps people who write and illustrate children's books. Alexander spent a lot of time helping this organization grow. She also mentored, or guided, many new writers.

She led the SCBWI advisory board for 33 years. She also helped with the Golden Kite Award for 25 years. She co-managed the yearly Southern California SCBWI conference for 25 years. She was the Southern California office manager for 20 years. The group grew from three members to over 12,000 when she passed away.

Alexander was also on the board of the Children's Literature Council of Southern California. She was a member of other groups that support children's books.

She taught classes on writing picture books at the University of California, Los Angeles. From 1998 to 2007, she reviewed children's books for the Los Angeles Times.

Awards and Special Recognitions

In 1980, Sue Alexander won the Dorothy C. McKenzie Award. This award was for her great work in children's literature. Her book Nadia the Willful won several awards. It received the FOCAL Award from the Los Angeles Central Library. It was also named a Notable Children's Book in Social Studies. It won the Children's Book of the Year in 1984.

In 1996, the SCBWI started the Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award. This award helps new writers connect with book editors and agents. The Southern California SCBWI also created the Sue Alexander Service and Encouragement Award. This award honors volunteers who help the organization.

Later Life and Legacy

Sue Alexander passed away on July 3, 2008. She was 74 years old. She died at her home in West Hills, Los Angeles.

Her writings, including manuscripts and letters, are kept at the De Grummond Children's Literature Collection. This collection is at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Here are some of the books Sue Alexander wrote for young readers:

Fiction Books

• Behold the Trees (2001)
• There's More...Much More (1987)
• Witch, Goblin and Ghost Are Back (1985)
• World Famous Muriel (1984)
• Witch, Goblin and Ghost in the Haunted Woods (1981)
• Seymour the Prince (1979)
• Marc the Magnificent (1978)
• Small Plays for Special Days (1977)

Non-fiction Books

• America's Own Holidays (1988)