Iris Vinton, an author of many children's books, died of breast cancer Saturday at her home in Manhattan. She was 82 years old.

Ms. Vinton was born in West Point, Miss., and came to New York in the 1930's, when she published several short plays. Her best-known children's novels - such as ''Flying Ebony'' (1947), which was made into a movie called ''The Mooncussers''; ''The Black Horse Company'' (1950); ''Longbow Island'' (1957) and ''Look Out for Pirates!'' - were adventure stories based on real incidents.

She contributed to several Nancy Drew mysteries, compiled a book of games from around the world, published many magazine articles and wrote a number of biographies geared to children, including a 1967 work on President Kennedy. She was director of publications for the Boys Clubs of America for 20 years, and was an active member of Pen and Brush and the Women's National Book Association. She was married to Louis German, who died in 1969.

Ms. Vinton is survived by two sisters, Ila Vinton and Lorraine Vinton Farrell, both of San Antonio.

https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/09/ob...