Kay Chorao facts for kids

Kay Chorao, whose birth name is Ann McKay Sproat, was born on January 7, 1936, in Elkhart, Indiana. She is an American artist, illustrator, and writer. She is well-known for creating many children's books.

About Kay Chorao

Kay Chorao grew up in Elkhart, Indiana. From a young age, she loved to draw and was encouraged to follow her passion. She went to Laurel School in Shaker Heights, OH.

Later, she attended Wheaton College. In 1958, she earned a degree in art history. She then continued her studies at Chelsea School of Art from 1958 to 1959. After getting married and having three sons, Kay Chorao moved to New York with her family. There, she studied book illustration at the School of Visual Arts from 1966 to 1968.

Kay Chorao's Career

Kay Chorao not only writes her own children's books but also draws pictures for many books by other authors. Some of these authors include Jane Yolen, Judith Viorst, Jan Wahl, and Marjorie Sharmat.

Her first book, The Repair of Uncle Toe, was published in 1972. Since then, she has written and illustrated more than fifty books. Her amazing illustrations have been shown many times by groups like the American Institute of Graphic Arts and the Society of Illustrators.

Kay Chorao has won the Christopher Award twice. She won it first in 1979 for illustrating Chester Chipmunk's Thanksgiving by Barbara Williams. She won again in 1989 for illustrating The Good-Bye Book by Judith Viorst.

In 1975, Kay Chorao illustrated Albert's Toothache by Barbara Williams. This book was very popular. It was named a "notable book" by the American Library Association.

In 1979, her 1974 book Ida Makes a Movie was made into a short film. This film later helped inspire the famous Degrassi teen TV series. In 1988, Chorao published Cathedral Mouse. This book was praised by critics and was chosen as one of the ten best children's picture books of the year by New York Times.

In 1990, the American Library Association picked Chorao's book Baby's Lap Book for its "Books to Grow On" list. This list was for children aged 6 to 12 months. The next year, her book Here Comes Kate was named among the "Best books for children" for the decade 1995–2005. In 1994, her book Annie and Cousin Precious was chosen by the International Reading Association as one of the "Children's Choices" for 1995.

Selected Works

As Writer and Illustrator

• The Repair of Uncle Toe (1972)
• A Magic Eye for Ida (1973)
• Ralph and the Queen's Bathtub (1974)
• Ida Makes a Movie (1974)
• Maudie's Umbrella (1975)
• Here Comes Kate (1982, 2000)
• Cathedral Mouse (1988)
• Ida and Betty and the Secret Eggs (1991)
• Annie and Cousin Precious (1994)
• Jumpety-Bumpety Hop: A Parade of Animal Poems (1997)
• Little Farm by the Sea (1998)

The "Baby" Series

• The Baby's Lap Book: Nursery Rhymes (1977, re-released with color illustrations in 1990)
• The Baby's Bedtime Book: Poems and Rhymes (1984)
• The Baby's Good Morning Book: Poems and Rhymes (1986)
• The Baby's Christmas Treasury: Poems, Stories, and Songs (1991)

The Oink and Pearl Series

• Oink and Pearl (1981)
• Ups and Downs with Oink and Pearl (1986)

As Illustrator Only

• The Witch's Egg by Madeleine Edmondson (1974)
• Clyde Monster by Robert L. Crowe (1976)
• Whose House? by Barbara Seuling (2004)
• Grandma's Hurrying Child by Jane Yolen (2005)

Books by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

• I'm Terrific (1977)
• Thornton the Worrier (1978)
• Grumley the Grouch (1980)
• Sometimes Mama and Papa Fight (1980)

Books by Judith Viorst

• My Mama Says there Aren't any Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Creatures, Demons, Monsters, Fiends, Goblins, or Things (1973)
• The Good-bye Book (1988)

Books by Jan Wahl

• Frankenstein's Dog (1977)
• Dracula's Cat (1978)

Books by Barbara Williams

• Albert's Toothache (1974)
• Kevin's Grandma (1975)
• Someday, Said Mitchell (1976)
• Chester Chipmunk's Thanksgiving (1978)
• A Valentine for Cousin Archie (1981)