Wisconsin children’s book author Heide dies at 92

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — Prolific children’s book author Florence Parry Heide has died at her Kenosha home. She was 92.

One of her daughters, Judith Gilliland, says Heide died in her sleep Sunday night. The Kenosha News reports family members and friends say Heide was in good health, and her death was unexpected.

Gilliland says her mother was the author of more than 100 children’s books. Heide also wrote under the pseudonyms Alex B. Allen and Jamie McDonald.

Her most critically acclaimed work was “The Shrinking of Treehorn” in 1971, which was illustrated by Edward Gorey. The New York Times named it one of the best illustrated children’s books of 1971.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Carthage College in Kenosha.