Katherine Paterson

Katherine Paterson is an award-winning Americann author of books for children.

She was born in China in 1932 to missionary parents. She graduated with a degree in English from Kings College, Bristol, Tennessee. She taught for a year at a rural school in Virginia before going to graduate school in Virginia. She received a Master's degree and worked as a missionary in Japan. She married her husband, John, in 1962. They have four children.

Her first novel was written while taking an adult education course in creative writing. Her awards include the National Book Award (Master Puppeteer, 1977 and The Great Gilly Hopkins, 1979), the Newbery Medal (Bridge to Terabithia 1978 and Jacob Have I Loved, 1981), the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (Jip, His Story), and the Hans Christian Anderson Medal (body of work, 1998). Katherine Paterson believes children’s books should deal with contemporary, realistic themes. Some of her books feature difficult themes such as death of a loved one, the stresses of foster care, exploitation of workers, and slavery. Katherine Paterson lives in Vermont.

Juvenile and Young Adult Novels:

• Sign of the Chrysanthemum, 1973.
• Of Nightingales That Weep, 1974.
• The Master Puppeteer, 1976.
• Bridge to Terabithia, 1977.
• The Great Gilly Hopkins, 1978.
• Jacob Have I Loved, 1980.
• Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom, 1983.
• Come Sing, Jimmy Jo, 1985.
• Park's Quest, 1988.
• Lyddie, 1991.
• Flip-Flop Girl, 1994.
• Jip, His Story, 1996.
• Preacher’s Boy, 1999.
• The Same Stuff as Stars, 2002

Picture Books:

• The King’s Equal, 1992.
• The Angel and the Donkey, 1996.
• Celia and the Sweet, Sweet Water, 1998.
• Tale of the Mandarin Ducks, 1990.
• The Wide-Awake Princess, 2000.

Translations:

• The Crane Wife by Sumiko Yagawa, 1981.
• The Tongue-Cut Sparrow by Momoko Ishii,1987.

I-Can-Read Books:

• The Field of the Dogs, 2001.
• Marvin One Too Many, 2001.
• Marvin’s Best Christmas Present Ever, 1997.
• The Smallest Cow in the World, 1991.
• Parzival: The Quest of the Grail Knight, 1998.

Non-Fiction:

• Gates of Excellence: On Reading and Writing Books for Children, 1981.
• Consider the Lilies: Plants of the Bible, 1986.
• The Spying Heart: More Thoughts on Reading and Writing Books for Children, 1989.
• Who Am I?, 1992.
• A Sense of Wonder: On Reading and Writing Books for Children, 1995.
  • (combined text of Gates of Excellence and The Spying Heart)
• The Invisible Child: On Reading and Writing Books for Children, 2001

Christmas Short Story Collections:

• Angels & Other Strangers: Family Christmas Stories, 1979.
• A Midnight Clear: Twelve Family Stories for the Christmas Season, 1995.
• Star of Night: Stories for Christmas, 1980.

Awards for Body of Work:

• Literary Light, Boston Public Library 2000
• Living Legend, Library of Congress 2000
• Literary Light, Boston Public Library 2000
• Living Legend Library of Congress 2000
• Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Writing 1998
• Lion of the New York Public Library 1998
• Who's Who in American Women 1995 to present
• King College, Outstanding Alumnus 1993-1994
• Education Press Friend of Education Award 1993
• Anne V. Zarrow Award, Tulsa Public Library 1993
• New England Book Award 1992
• US Nominee Hans Christian Andersen Award 1989
• Regina Medal, Catholic Library Association 1988
• Children's Literature Award, Keene State College 1987
• Kerlan Award, University of Minnesota 1983
• University of Southern Mississippi Medallion 1983
• US Nominee Hans Christian Andersen Medal 1979
• Who's Who in America 1978 to present
• The Union Medal, Union Theological Seminary New York

Katherine Paterson Home Page: http://www.terabithia.com/index.html