Kate DiCamillo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kate DiCamillo
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DiCamillo at the 2018 National Book Festival
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| Born | Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo March 25, 1964 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Genre | Children's fiction |
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| Notable awards | Newbery Medal 2004, 2014 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature 2014–15 |
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Kate DiCamillo (born March 25, 1964) is an American author who writes amazing books for kids! She has written more than 25 novels. Some of her most famous books include Because of Winn-Dixie (2000), The Tale of Despereaux (2003), and Flora & Ulysses (2013).
Her books are super popular, with millions of copies sold worldwide. Many of her stories have even been turned into movies or musicals! Kate DiCamillo has won the prestigious Newbery Medal twice, for The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses. This makes her one of only a few authors to win this award more than once.
Kate was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When she was a child, her family moved to Clermont, Florida. She later went to the University of Florida, Gainesville, and earned a degree in English. After college, she worked different jobs before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1994. There, she worked in a book warehouse and kept trying to get her stories published.
Her first book, Because of Winn-Dixie, was a huge success! After that, Kate DiCamillo became a full-time writer. From 2014 to 2015, she was the American National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. She still lives in Minneapolis and continues to write wonderful books for young readers. Her latest book, The Hotel Balzaar, was published on October 1, 2024.
Contents
Kate's Early Life and School
Kate DiCamillo was born on March 25, 1964, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mom, Betty Lee DiCamillo, was a teacher, and her dad, Adolph Louis DiCamillo, was an orthodontist. Kate has a brother named Curt, who studies old buildings.
When Kate was little, she often got sick with pneumonia and had to stay in the hospital. To help her feel better, her family moved to the warmer climate of Clermont, Florida, when she was five. Her dad stayed in Philadelphia for his business but visited them often.
Kate loved to read when she was a kid and spent a lot of time at her local library. She says her mom helped her fall in love with books. Reading was also a great comfort to her when she was sick and couldn't do much else. For a while, she even wanted to be a veterinarian!
She went to public schools in Clermont, starting with Clermont Elementary. Later, she attended Rollins College and the University of Central Florida. She finally graduated from the University of Florida, Gainesville, in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in English.
Starting Her Writing Journey
After college, Kate worked many different jobs in Clermont. She worked at places like Circus World, Walt Disney World, a campground, and a greenhouse. She once said that she thought her writing talent would be noticed quickly, so she "sat around for the next seven or eight years."
In 1994, Kate moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to be closer to a friend. After trying a few jobs, she started working at The Bookman, a warehouse that stored and shipped books. She ended up working in the children's book section, which she wasn't happy about at first. But while working there, she discovered The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, a children's novel she really admired.
She began writing regularly while working at the warehouse. She would wake up early on weekdays to write before her shifts. After four years in Minnesota, Kate met another author, Louise Erdrich, who encouraged her to keep writing. Kate sent her books to many publishers and received hundreds of rejection letters. Another author, Jane Resh Thomas, also encouraged her. Even with all her hard work, by the year 2000, Kate had only published a few short stories for adults.
Becoming a Famous Author
By 2018, Kate DiCamillo had published 25 books. As of 2021, nearly 37 million copies of her books were in print! In 2019, Mpls St Paul Magazine called her "Minnesota's most successful writer."
Kate's first book to be accepted for publication was Because of Winn-Dixie. It's a heartwarming story about a girl who finds a stray dog. Kate got the idea for the book during a cold winter in Minnesota. She missed her home in Florida and was sad that her apartment didn't allow dogs.
She gave her story draft to a sales agent from Candlewick Press at a Christmas party. The draft got lost for a bit but was later found. Kate was offered a contract, and after some changes, the book was published in 2000. Because of Winn-Dixie quickly became a big hit with both readers and critics. After its success, Kate left her job to become a full-time writer. She once said she made herself write two pages every day, which usually took her about 30 minutes to an hour.
Awards and Recognition
The success of Because of Winn-Dixie started Kate DiCamillo's amazing writing career. This book won the 2000 Josette Frank Award and a Newbery Honor. Her second book, The Tiger Rising, was published the next year and was also praised by critics.
In 2004, Kate won the prestigious Newbery Medal for her third book, The Tale of Despereaux. She wrote this story because a friend's child asked for a tale about "an unlikely hero." Kate was very surprised when she heard the news about winning the Newbery. She said her 2006 book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, about a china rabbit, was very easy for her to write.
The Mercy Watson series, which stars a pig, began with Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (2006) and finished with Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes (2009). Kate's 2010 novel Bink & Gollie, which she wrote with Alison McGhee, won the 2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal. Her 2013 novel Flora & Ulysses was partly inspired by an injured squirrel she saw. It won the Newbery Medal in 2014, making her one of only a few writers to win two Newberys since the award began in 1920.
From January 2014 to December 2015, Kate DiCamillo was the fourth National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. In this role, she used the theme "Stories Connect Us" to encourage reading.
Her 2016 book Raymie Nightingale was about three girls who become friends. She wrote two more books to complete the trilogy: Louisiana's Way Home and Beverly, Right Here. In 2019, she received the Regina Medal for her writing. On March 29, 2020, the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, even named it Kate DiCamillo Day! Her novel The Beatryce Prophecy was published in 2021. Her next novel, Ferris, was published on March 5, 2024, and The Hotel Balzaar came out on October 1, 2024.
Awards Kate DiCamillo Has Won
Kate DiCamillo has received many awards for her wonderful books.
Books on Screen and Stage
Many of Kate DiCamillo's books have been turned into films and stage plays!
- Because of Winn-Dixie became a movie in 2005.
- The Tale of Despereaux was made into an animated film in 2008.
- In 2020, Netflix started making an animated film based on The Magician's Elephant, which was released in 2023.
- In 2021, Walt Disney Pictures released the film Flora & Ulysses on Disney+.
- The film The Tiger Rising was released in 2022.
Kate helped write the movie script for Winn-Dixie and gave advice for The Tale of Despereaux. She has said she enjoyed both adaptations. She even had a small appearance in the Flora & Ulysses movie!
In 2017, the Minnesota Opera announced they would turn The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane into an opera. The Magician's Elephant was also adapted into a musical by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2021.
Movies Based on Her Books
- Because of Winn-Dixie – Released February 18, 2005
- The Tale of Despereaux – Released December 19, 2008
- Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures – Released February 19, 2021
- The Tiger Rising – Released January 21, 2022
- The Magician's Elephant – Released March 17, 2023
Kate DiCamillo's Books
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Novels
- Because of Winn-Dixie (2000)
- The Tiger Rising (2001)
- The Tale of Despereaux (2003)
- The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (2006)
- The Magician's Elephant (2009)
- Flora & Ulysses (2013)
- Raymie Nightingale (2016)
- Louisiana's Way Home (2018)
- Beverly, Right Here (2019)
- The Beatryce Prophecy (2021)
- Ferris (2024)
- The Hotel Balzaar (2024)
Early Reader Chapter Books
- Bink & Gollie series (written with Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile)
- Bink & Gollie (2010)
- Bink & Gollie: Two for One (2012)
- Bink & Gollie: Best Friends Forever (2013)
- Mercy Watson series (illustrated by Chris Van Dusen)
- Mercy Watson to the Rescue (2005)
- Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (2006)
- Mercy Watson Fights Crime (2006)
- Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise (2007)
- Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig (2008)
- Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes (2009)
- A Very Mercy Christmas (2022)
- Tales from Deckawoo Drive series (illustrated by Chris Van Dusen)
- Leroy Ninker Saddles Up: Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume One (2014)
- Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon: Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume Two (2015)
- Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln?: Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume Three (2016)
- Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package: Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume Four (2017)
- Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem, Volume Five (2020)
- Franklin Endicott and the Third Key, Volume Six (2021)
- Mercy Watson is Missing!, Volume Seven (2023)
- Orris and Timble series (illustrated by Carmen Mok)
- Orris and Timble: The Beginning (2024)
- Orris and Timble: Lost and Found (2025)
Picture Books
- La La La (2019)
Short Stories
- "Your Question for Author Here", with Jon Scieszka, in Guys Read: Funny Business (2010)
- "The Third Floor Bedroom", in The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales (2011)
- "The Castle of Rose Tellin", in The Best Short Stories 2024: The O. Henry Prize Winners (2024)
See also
In Spanish: Kate DiCamillo para niños
