Sydney Taylor

ABOUT SYDNEY TAYLOR

Remembered for her autobiographical All-of-a-Kind Family children's book series, she is notable for highlighting the Jewish-American experience in her literary work. The first book she published received the Charles W. Follett Award in children's literature.

Following her graduation from New York University, she pursued professional acting and dancing careers. She published her first All-of-a-Kind Family book in 1951.

For many years, she helped run Cejwin Camps, a summer program for Jewish-American children. She worked with several different illustrators throughout her career.

Members of the Brenner family of Jewish immigrants, she and her siblings grew up in New York, New York. Her marriage to Ralph Taylor resulted in a daughter named Joanne.

She and her contemporary Henry Roth both penned important works describing the mid-20th-century lives of Jewish Americans.