Kathi Appelt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kathi Appelt
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Appelt at the 2017 Texas Book Festival
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| Born | July 6, 1954 Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer, writing teacher |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University |
| Period | 1990s–present |
| Genre | Children's literature, picture books, non-fiction |
Kathi Appelt (born July 6, 1954) is an American author. She has written over forty books for children and young adults. She won the PEN USA award for Children's Literature for her book The Underneath in 2008.
Contents
Kathi Appelt's Early Life and Education
Kathi Appelt was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on July 6, 1954. Her parents were teenagers when she was born. Her father, Bill Cowgill, was in the military.
Her family later moved to Houston, Texas, where she grew up. She has two younger sisters, Patty and B.J. Kathi remembers drawing on a blank wall in her father's garage. She says this was her first time expressing herself through art.
She went to Texas A&M University and graduated in 1972.
Kathi Appelt's Family Life
Kathi Appelt married Kenneth L. Appelt on January 6, 1979. Kenneth is a teacher. They have two sons named Jacob and Cooper. Both of their sons grew up to become jazz musicians.
Kathi and Kenneth Appelt live in College Station, Texas.
Kathi Appelt's Writing Career
Kathi Appelt has written more than 30 books. She writes different kinds of books for kids and young adults. These include novels, picture books, poetry, and nonfiction (books based on facts). Her books have been translated into many languages. These include Spanish, Chinese, French, and Swedish.
Her first novel was The Underneath. David Small drew the pictures for the book. It was published in 2008. The story is about a cat and a dog living under an old house. This house is in the bayou area of Louisiana and Texas. For The Underneath, she won the Children's Literature award from PEN Center USA. She was also a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. The American Library Association also named it a Newbery Honor Book.
Kathi Appelt used to teach a class at Texas A&M. This class was about writing for children. As of 2020, she teaches in a writing program. This program is for students earning a Master of Fine Arts degree. It is at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Fun Facts About Kathi Appelt
- Kathi Appelt was born in the front seat of her father's car! He was driving her mother to the hospital.
- She likes to keep a journal.
- She has said that waiting is not something she is good at.
Kathi Appelt's Famous Quotes
- “Most of my books and poems come directly from my own life because that’s what I know best and feel most strongly about.”
- “The liberal arts has a human core. We are storytellers because we ourselves are stories.”
- “Writing is really a way of seeing.”
Selected Books by Kathi Appelt
- The Underneath, illustrated by David Small (2008)
- Brand-New Baby Blues, illustrated by Kelly Murphy (2009)
- Keeper, illustrated by August Hall (2010)
- Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky, written with Jeanne Cannella Schmitzer (2001)
- Max Attacks, illustrated by Penelope Dullaghan (2019)
See also
In Spanish: Kathi Appelt para niños
