Jill Murphy, the children’s author and illustrator whose Worst Witch series of books have delighted young readers since 1974, has died at 72, BBC News reports. The cause of death was cancer, which she was first diagnosed with at 46.

Murphy, who was born in London, began her literary career early, writing an initial draft of The Worst Witch when she was a teenager. The book, about a young witch who doesn’t do well at her school for magic, was published in 1974.

Seven books in the series would follow, including The Worst Witch Strikes Again, The Worst Witch Saves the Day, and, most recently, First Prize for the Worst Witch.

 

The Worst Witch was adapted into a 1986 TV movie starring Diana Rigg and Tim Curry, and into two television series, one debuting in 1998, and the other running from 2017 to 2020.

On social media, Murphy’s fans paid tribute to her. Author James Mayhew tweeted, “Warm, loving, funny and tender, her books are beautifully observed, and deeply cherished. Farewell, Jill.”

And educator Simon Smith wrote, “So sad to hear of the loss of wonderful children’s writer Jill Murphy. These four were brilliant bedtime reads and my boys would always pick them. Fantastic, funny and so very true about families and relationships.”

Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.