Lavinia Riker Davis (1909–1961) was an American author of picture books, teenage novels, and mysteries for children and adults. She wrote over forty books, mostly under her own name, but sometimes using the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

"Wendell Farmer". She also wrote short stories, some published in ''The American Girl'', ''The American Boy'', ''

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The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Press. Editors Anthony Boucher a ...

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/ref> One of her illustrators,

Hildegard Woodward Hildegard Woodward (February 10, 1898 – December 1977) was the author and illustrator of many children's books, two of which were awarded a Caldecott Honor. Woodward's art was not restricted to children's books; her portfolio includes numerous ...

, was twice awarded the Caldecott Honor for her illustrations to books written by Lavinia R. Davis, '' Roger and the Fox'' in 1948, and '' The Wild Birthday Cake'' in 1950.

Selected bibliography

*''Hobby Horse Hill'' (1939) (illus. Paul Brown) *''Buttonwood Island'' (1940) (illus. Paul Brown) *''We All Go Away'' (1940) (illus. Dorothea Warren) *''We All Go To School'' (1941) (illus. Dorothea Warren) *''Plow Penny Mystery'' (1942) (illus. Paul Brown) *''Stand Fast and Reply'' (1943) *''A Sea Between'' (1945) *'' Roger and the Fox'' (1947) (illus. Hildegard Woodward) *'' The Wild Birthday Cake'' (1949) (illus. Hildegard Woodward) *''Danny's Luck'' (1953) (illus. Hildegard Woodward) *''Donkey Detectives'' (1955) (illus. Jean MacDonald Porter) *''Island City: Adventures in Old New York'' (1961) (Peter Spier) *''The Journals of Lavinia Riker Davis'' (1964) Crime Club *''Evidence Unseen'' (1945) *''Barren Heritage'' (1946) *''Threat of Dragons'' (1948) As "Wendell Farmer" *''The Surprise Mystery'' (1943) (illus. Alice Harvey) *''Bicycle Commandos'' (1944) (alt. title ''Bicycle Detectives'') (illus. Alice Harvey) *''Fish Hook Island Mystery'' (1945) (illus. Ninon Macknight)

References

1909 births 1961 deaths American children's writers Pseudonymous women writers American women children's writers 20th-century American women writers 20th-century pseudonymous writers {{US-child-writer-stub