Zilpha Keatley Snyder facts for kids

Zilpha Keatley Snyder (born May 11, 1927 – died October 7, 2014) was an American author. She wrote many popular books for children and young adults.

Three of her books received a special award called the Newbery Honor. These books were The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid, and The Witches of Worm. Zilpha Keatley Snyder was best known for her exciting adventure stories and fantasy novels.

About Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Zilpha Keatley Snyder was born in Lemoore, California. She spent most of her life in Northern California. For a while, she lived in Washington state and Alaska with her husband. He was in the Air Force.

She went to college and became a schoolteacher. Her time teaching helped her understand how kids think and imagine. She taught in different places like New York, Washington, Alaska, and California. Later, she taught older elementary school students in Berkeley.

How She Started Writing

Zilpha Keatley Snyder began writing stories in the 1960s. Her very first book was Season of Ponies, published in 1964. She worked with a famous children's book editor named Jean Karl. This book was also the start of her working with illustrator Alston Raible. They worked together on thirteen books!

Between 1964 and 2011, Zilpha Keatley Snyder wrote 46 books. Her stories often mixed real-life events with magical or supernatural elements. The endings of her books sometimes made you wonder if the magic was real or just imagined. Her main characters were often strong, smart, and brave girls.

Her Books and a Computer Game

Zilpha Keatley Snyder wrote a novel called Below the Root. She also wrote two more books that continued the story. These books were part of her "Green Sky" universe.

In 1984, a computer game was made based on Below the Root. The game took place after the events of her last book in the series, Until the Celebration. Zilpha Keatley Snyder helped create parts of the game. She worked on the map and the characters with the programmer Dale Disharoon.

Zilpha Keatley Snyder passed away in 2014 in San Francisco. She was 87 years old.

Awards and Special Recognition

Zilpha Keatley Snyder's book The Witches of Worm was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1972. This award recognizes excellent books for children.

In 1998, her old college, Whittier College, gave her a special honorary degree. This was to celebrate her amazing work as a writer.

Published Books

Zilpha Keatley Snyder wrote many books, often in exciting series.

The Egypt Game Series

This series is about kids who create their own secret game based on ancient Egypt.

• The Egypt Game (1967) – This book won a Newbery Honor.
• The Gypsy Game (1997)

Stanley Family Series

These books follow the adventures of the Stanley family.

• The Headless Cupid (1971) – Also known as A Witch in the Family, this book won a Newbery Honor.
• Blair's Nightmare (1985)
• Janie's Private Eyes (1989)

Green Sky Trilogy

This fantasy series takes place in a unique world where people live high in the trees.

• Below the Root (1975)
• And All Between (1976)
• Until the Celebration (1977)

Castle Court Kids Series

• The Diamond War (1995)
• The Box and the Bone (1995)
• Ghost Invasion (1995)
• Secret Weapons (1995)

Gib Series

• Gib Rides Home (1998)
• Gib and the Gray Ghost (2000)

Other Books

• Season of Ponies (1964) – Her very first book!
• The Velvet Room (1965)
• Black and Blue Magic (1967)
• Eyes in the Fishbowl (1968)
• Today Is Saturday (1969) – A book of poetry.
• The Changeling (1970)
• The Witches of Worm (1972) – This book won a Newbery Honor.
• The Princess and the Giants (1973)
• The Truth About Stone Hollow (1974) – Also known as The Ghosts of Stone Hollow.
• Heirs of Darkness (1978)
• A Fabulous Creature (1981)
• Come on, Patsy (1982)
• The Birds of Summer (1983)
• The Changing Maze (1983)
• And Condors Danced (1987)
• Squeak Saves the Day and Other Tooley Tales (1988)
• Song of the Gargoyle (1991)
• Libby on Wednesday (1991)
• Fool's Gold (1993)
• Cat Running (1994)
• The Trespassers (1995)
• The Runaways (1999)
• Spyhole Secrets (2001)
• The Ghosts of Rathburn Park (2002)
• The Unseen (2004)
• The Magic Nation Thing (2005)
• The Treasures Of Weatherby (2006)
• The Bronze Pen (2008)
• William S and the Great Escape (2009)
• William's Midsummer Dreams (2011) – This was her last published book.