Alijandra Mogilner is a children's literature author and educator whose work has shaped how writers approach vocabulary for young readers. Born in 1944, she taught writing for publication at the University of California San Diego and raised three children in the city where she still lives.
Her best-known book, the Children's Writer's Word Book, has been a standard reference for children's authors since its first edition in 1992. Originally published by Writer's Digest Books and now carried by Penguin Random House, the book pairs graded vocabulary lists from kindergarten through sixth grade with a thesaurus that flags reading level for each synonym. Editors, novelists, teachers, and freelance writers use it to match language to audience without guesswork.
The expanded second edition adds writing samples for each reading level, a guide to the rhythms specific to children's prose, and advice on common pitfalls in word choice for the under-twelve audience. The book is recommended in MFA programs and writing courses focused on children's and young adult literature.
