Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is an American writer born on January 4, 1933 in Anderson, Indiana, US. She is renowned for her works in children's and young adult fiction. Naylor is best known for the children's-novel quartet Shiloh, which won the 1992 Newbery Medal, and for her "Alice" book series, which has been one of the most frequently challenged books of the last decade.

Naylor grew up in a strongly religious family with conservative midwestern values. Her childhood involved moving frequently due to her father's occupation as a salesman. Despite the financial challenges of the Depression era, Naylor never felt poor, largely thanks to her family's love for books. Her parents frequently read to their children, with her father imitating characters from Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, and her mother reading to them every evening until they were nearly old enough to go out on dates.

By the fifth grade, writing had already become Naylor's favorite pursuit. Her works have notably contributed to fostering tolerance and acceptance among readers, particularly concerning issues of race and sexuality.