Katherine Paterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Katherine Paterson
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Paterson in 2011
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| Born | Katherine Womeldorf October 31, 1932 Huai'an, Jiangsu, Republic of China (1912-1949) (now China) |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater |
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| Period | 1973–present |
| Genre | Children's and young-adult novels |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards |
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| Spouse |
John Barstow Paterson
(m. 1962; died 2013) |
| Children | 2, including David L. Paterson |
Katherine Paterson, born Katherine Womeldorf on October 31, 1932, is a famous American writer. She is best known for her amazing children's books. Some of her most popular novels include Bridge to Terabithia (1977) and The Great Gilly Hopkins (1978).
Paterson has won many important awards for her writing. She received two Newbery Medals and two National Book Awards for books published between 1975 and 1980. She also won the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1998 and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2006. These are two of the biggest international awards for children's literature. From 2010 to 2011, she served as the second US National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. This role helps encourage kids to read.
Contents
Katherine Paterson's Early Life
Katherine Womeldorf was born in Huai'an, China. Her parents were Presbyterian missionaries. Her father supported the family by preaching and running a boys' school. The Womeldorf family lived in a Chinese neighborhood. They learned a lot about Chinese culture.
When Katherine was five, her family had to leave China. This was during the Japanese invasion in 1937. They returned to the United States when World War II began. During the war, her family moved many times. They lived in different towns in Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia. In total, they moved 15 times in 13 years.
Katherine Paterson's Education
Katherine's first language was Chinese. She found it hard to read and write English at first. But she worked hard and became very good at it. In 1954, she graduated with top honors from King College in Bristol, Tennessee. She earned a degree in English.
After college, she taught at a small elementary school in Virginia for a year. Then, she went to graduate school. She earned a master's degree from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education. There, she studied the Bible and Christian education. Katherine wanted to be a missionary in China. However, China's borders were closed to Westerners. A Japanese friend encouraged her to go to Japan instead. In Japan, she worked as a missionary. She also studied Japanese and Chinese culture. These studies greatly influenced her later books.
Katherine Paterson's Writing Career
Katherine Paterson started her writing career in 1964. She wrote materials for fifth and sixth graders for the Presbyterian Church. In 1966, she wrote a religious education book called Who Am I?.
She kept writing, but her novels were not published at first. After some encouragement, she took a creative writing course for adults. Her first children's novel, The Sign of the Chrysanthemum, was published in 1973. This book is historical fiction. It is set in medieval Japan and was inspired by her time there.
Bridge to Terabithia was published in 1977. This is her most famous book. It deals with difficult themes, but it is very popular. Many of her other books also explore tough topics, like losing someone you love. Paterson has said that her books often feature "heroes of the most unlikely sort."
Recent Years and Contributions
Katherine Paterson lives in Barre, Vermont. Her husband, John Barstow Paterson, passed away in 2013. She has four children and seven grandchildren.
In 2005, Paterson dedicated a tree at Takoma Park Elementary School. It was in memory of Lisa Hill, a childhood friend of her son David. Lisa was the inspiration for Bridge to Terabithia. In 2006, Paterson released Bread and Roses, Too. She was inspired to write this book after seeing a photo of children from the Lawrence textile strike.
In 2010, Paterson became the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. This was a two-year role. She worked to raise awareness about how important reading and education are. In 2013, she received the Children's Literature Legacy Award. This award honors authors whose books have made a lasting contribution to children's literature. The committee noted that her books, especially Bridge to Terabithia, helped make children's literature more realistic.
As of 2022, Katherine Paterson is a vice-president of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. This group works to support reading, books, and libraries.
Katherine Paterson's Writing Style
In Paterson's novels, young main characters face big challenges. They learn to overcome these challenges through self-sacrifice. Paterson writes about themes that are often considered serious, like death and jealousy. She writes with great care and understanding.
Even though her stories can be sad, Paterson also includes clever humor. Her characters often face hard times. But they usually succeed and achieve their goals. Paterson's main characters are often children who feel alone. They might be orphans or feel separated from others. They usually have only a few friends and must face tough situations on their own. This might reflect parts of Paterson's own childhood.
Awards and Recognition
Katherine Paterson has received many awards for her books and her career. The Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Astrid Lindgren Award are the top international honors for children's literature. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award is a major US award for contributions to American children's literature.
She has also won awards for specific books:
- National Book Award for The Master Puppeteer (1977) and The Great Gilly Hopkins (1979).
- Edgar Allan Poe Special Award for Master Puppeteer (1977).
- Newbery Medal for Bridge to Terabithia (1977) and Jacob Have I Loved (1981).
- Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Jip, His Story (1996).
- The Of Nightingales That Weep won the 1994 Phoenix Award. This award is for books that did not win a major award when first published.
Awards for Her Entire Body of Work
- E. B. White Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, 2019
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, 2013
- NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature 2007
- Astrid Lindgren Award for Lifetime Achievement 2006
- Literary Light, Boston Public Library 2000
- Library of Congress Living Legend, Library of Congress 2000
- Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Writing 1998
- Lion of the New York Public Library 1998
- Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers' Literature, Tulsa Public Library 1993
- New England Book Award 1992
- Regina Medal, Catholic Library Association 1988
- Kerlan Award, University of Minnesota 1983
- The University of Southern Mississippi Medallion 1983
- Scott O'Dell Award for Children's Literature 1982
Book and Film Adaptations
Several of Katherine Paterson's books have been made into films and TV shows.
- Bridge to Terabithia was made into a film twice. There was a 1985 PBS version and a 2007 Walden Media production. Paterson's son, David L. Paterson, helped write the screenplay for the 2007 film.
- Her 1980 novel, Jacob Have I Loved, became a made-for-television film in 1989. It was part of the WonderWorks series on PBS.
- Her short story "Poor Little Innocent Lamb" was adapted into the 2002 TV film Miss Lettie and Me.
- The Great Gilly Hopkins was made into a film in 2015. Her son, David L. Paterson, also wrote the screenplay for this movie.
See also
In Spanish: Katherine Paterson para niños
