Obit of the Day: Heide-ing Books
Florence Parry Heide did not become an author of children’s books until her 50s. A homemaker, she waited until her five children were all in school, and then made up for lost time. Between 1967 (Maximilian) and 2010 (Dillweed’s Revenge: A Daily Dose of Magic) Mrs. Heidie wrote over 100 books for children and young adults including Some Things Are Scary (illustrated by Pultizer Prize-winner Jules Feiffer), Princess Hyacinth: The Suprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated (illustrated by Lane Smith, Caldecott Honor winner), When the Sad One Comes to Stay (a young adult novel), Oh, Grow Up!: Poems to Help You Survive Parents, Chores, School, and Other Afflictions and the Spotlight Club Mysteries.
Mrs. Heide’s best known works focused on a unique little boy named Treehorn. The trilogy of Treehorn books, The Shrinking of Treehorn, Treehorn’s Treasure, and Treehorn’s Wish were all illustrated by the legendary, and often macabre, Edward Gorey. The Shrinking of Treehorn, first published in 1971, was recognized by the New York Times as the “Best Illustrated Children’s Book” of that year.
A graduate of UCLA, Mrs. Heidie worked in advertising and public relations in New York and Pittsburgh before moving to Kenosha, Wisconsin with her husband after World War II. She died at the age of 92.
(Image copyright Abrams Books and courtesy of www.betterbookworld.com)
