Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo is an American children's fiction writer. She has published over 25 novels, and her books have sold around 40 million copies. Four of them became movies, and two were adapted into musical settings.
Kate DiCamillo was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, she spent her formative years growing up in the picturesque town of Clermont, Florida.
She earned an English degree from the University of Florida, Gainesville, and spent several years working entry-level jobs in Clermont before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Upon relocating to Minnesota from Florida in her twenties, she experienced homesickness and endured a harsh winter, which eventually inspired her breakthrough novel, Because of Winn-Dixie (2000). This heartwarming tale marked her debut in the literary world, captivating readers and earning her a well-deserved Newbery Honor.
It was also adapted as a 2005 family film directed by Wayne Wang, produced by Walden Media and Twentieth Century Fox.
Her second work, The Tiger Rising 2001, received the status of a National Book Award Finalist. The book tells the story of a 12-year-old named Rob Horton, who finds a caged tiger in the center of the woods near his home.
Throughout her career, Kate DiCamillo has demonstrated versatility by writing for various age groups. Among her delightful creations are the comical early-chapter-book series: Mercy Watson, featuring a porcine wonder with an insatiable craving for buttered toast, and Bink & Gollie, celebrating the heartwarming friendship between two characters of contrasting heights.
Beyond these series, she has also contributed a luminous holiday picture book titled Great Joy (2007), further showcasing her gift for crafting touching narratives.
In a remarkable achievement, Kate's novel Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures secured the prestigious 2014 Newbery Medal. The book, released in 2013, received widespread acclaim, with its unique format combining novel elements with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all brought to life by the talented artist K. G. Campbell.
Flora & Ulysses struck a chord with readers, earning several-starred reviews and becoming an instant New York Times bestseller. The book garnered accolades, including the Parent's Choice Gold Award and the Best Books of the Year by Common Sense Media.
"I think of myself as an enormously lucky person: I get to tell stories for a living," the author says.
Currently, Kate DiCamillo resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Photo credit: www.katedicamillo.com
