Katherine Ayres facts for kids

Katherine Ayres is an American writer who creates wonderful books for children. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She also helped start the Pittsburgh Public Theater's Playwrights’ Lab. She once said she was "a poster child for early literacy," meaning she strongly believes in helping young children learn to read.

Her Early Years

Katherine Ayres was born in 1947 in Columbus, Ohio. She grew up in different states, including Ohio, West Virginia, and New York. In 1965, she finished high school in West Islip, New York. She then went to The College of Wooster, earning her first degree in 1969. Later, she earned her master's degree from Tufts University in 1974.

Becoming an Author

Before becoming a full-time writer, Katherine Ayres worked as an educator. She was even an elementary school principal! She started writing books for kids in the 1990s.

In 2008, Katherine Ayres traveled all over Pennsylvania. She read her book, Up, Down, and Around, to many young children. These children were part of a special program called Pennsylvania One Book, Every Young Child. This program helps young kids learn to read. About 90,000 copies of her book were given out to childcare centers and libraries. This helped reach many children that year.

Today, Ayres helps run a special writing program. It's the Chatham University Master of Fine Arts Program in Children’s and Adolescent Writing in Pittsburgh. She helps new writers learn how to create stories for young people.

Books She Has Written

Katherine Ayres has written many fiction books for young readers. Here are some of her popular titles:

• Family Tree (1996)
• North by Night: A Story of the Underground Railroad (1998)
• Voices at Whisper Bend (1999)
• Silver Dollar Girl (2000)
• Under Copp's Hill (2000)
• Stealing South: A Story of the Underground Railroad (2001)
• A Long Way (2003)
• Macaroni Boy (2003)
• Matthew's Truck (2005)
• Up, Down, and Around (2007)