Kate Pankhurst facts for kids

Kate Pankhurst is a talented British writer and illustrator. She is famous for her fun and inspiring children's picture books. In 2002, she won second place in a special competition called the Macmillan Prize for Picture Book Illustration.

Growing Up and Finding Her Passion

Kate Pankhurst grew up in Liverpool, England. She loved books from a young age. A local bookshop she passed on her way to school helped her discover the joy of reading.

A British comic called The Beano inspired Kate to create her own comics. She even sold them to her friends at school! This experience made her want to become an illustrator when she grew up.

At first, she thought about designing shoes. But while studying at the University of Central Lancashire, she realized her true calling. She could combine her love for drawing and stories by illustrating children's books.

Her Amazing Career

After winning her award in 2002, Kate started working on the "Mariella Mystery Investigates" series. For these books, she was both the writer and the illustrator. Later, she began publishing her books with Bloomsbury.

Fantastically Great Women

Kate's first non-fiction book was Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World. While working on this book, she made an exciting discovery. She found out she was distantly related to Emmeline Pankhurst, a famous suffragette. Emmeline fought for women's right to vote. Kate included Emmeline in her book!

Kate enjoyed sharing stories of lesser-known women in her book. For example, she wrote about Gertrude Ederle. Gertrude was the first woman to swim across the English Channel. To promote her book, Kate visited schools. She talked about how she creates her stories and drawings. She also appeared at the WayWord festival in Chester. A follow-up book was published in 2018.

From Book to Stage

In 2021, an exciting announcement was made. A new musical based on Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World would open! The show started in Southampton in November.

The musical features songs by talented songwriters Miranda Cooper and Jennifer Decilveo. The story was written by Chris Bush. It follows a character named Jade. Jade leaves her class to meet some of history's most iconic women. These include Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie, and of course, Emmeline Pankhurst. The musical toured the UK from 2021 to 2023.

Inspiring Young Readers

Besides creating her wonderful books, Kate Pankhurst also works with teachers and children. She loves to share her passion for reading. She also inspires kids with the stories of amazing women throughout history.

Her Life Today

Kate Pankhurst lives in Leeds with her family. She creates her books in a studio. This studio is in an old spinning mill. She also has a dalmatian dog named Olive.