Jo Kittinger facts for kids
Jo Linda Susenbach Kittinger, born on October 7, 1955, is a talented writer from Alabama. She is famous for her many children's books. She also takes part in many groups that work on local, national, and even international projects. Jo Kittinger is an active member of a writers' group called Leaky Pens. She is also part of SCBWI, which stands for The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. For eleven years, she helped lead the Southern Breeze chapter of SCBWI. This chapter covers Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Now, she is an honored advisor for the group.
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About Jo Kittinger's Life
Early Life and Education
Jo Kittinger was born on October 7, 1955, in Miami, Florida. She went to Vestavia Hills High School. Later, she attended the University of Montevallo. There, she earned a special degree called a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She graduated with very high honors.
Starting Her Writing Career
Jo Kittinger became interested in publishing at a young age. In high school, she was the editor of her yearbook. After college, she started sending in her own craft designs to be published. You can find her projects in many books and magazines. Some of these were published by Oxmoor House Books and Heritage House Publishing.
She began writing books for children in 1991. Besides her books, Jo has written articles for different magazines. These include Pockets, Boys Quest, and The Flicker. She also wrote many special articles for the Just For Kids page of the Birmingham News. She has also created materials for educational companies like Harcourt Brace Educational Measurement and CTB/McGraw-Hill.
Speaking and Community Work
For over ten years, Jo Kittinger has been a popular speaker. She has given talks at big conferences in the United States. She has even traveled as far as Manila, Philippines, to speak. She also visits local classrooms to talk about being an author.
Jo Kittinger also spent ten years helping her community in Hoover, Alabama. She served on a board that supported people with developmental challenges. This was important to her because her oldest son has a condition similar to Cerebral Palsy.
Awards for Her Books
Recognized Children's Books
Jo Kittinger's book, Rosa's Bus: the Ride to Civil Rights, won a Crystal Kite award. This award is given by the SCBWI.
Her picture book, The House on Dirty-Third Street, received a Christopher Award in 2013. This book also won the very first Social Justice Literature Award. This award was given by the International Reading Association in 2013.
