Kate DiCamillo

Infobox Writer
name = Kate DiCamillo

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imagesize = 160px
caption =
pseudonym =
birthdate = Birth date and age|1964|3|25|mf=y
birthplace = Philadelphia, PA
deathdate =
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occupation = Children's author
nationality = American
period = 2000-present
genre = animal-fiction
subject =
movement =
main_work = "Because of Winn-Dixie"Tale of desperoux
influences =
influenced =
website = http://www.katedicamillo.com/
footnotes =

Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo (born March 25, 1964) is an American children's author. She is known for her award-winning children's books including "Because of Winn-Dixie", adapted into film in 2005, "The Tale of Despereaux", and the "Mercy Watson" series.

Biography

Early life

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, DiCamillo suffered from chronic pneumonia. At age 5, she moved from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Clermont, Florida for her health with her mother and older brother, Curt DiCamillo. Her mother was a teacher. Her father stayed behind to sell his orthodontic practice and never rejoined the family in Florida. Her brother, Curt, is an architectural historian and lives in Boston. Kate lives in Minneapolis.

DiCamillo majored in English at the University of Florida and worked various jobs after graduation until moving to Minneapolis at age 30. She began writing there around working in a book warehouse, where she met a sales representative for Candlewick Press and submitted a draft of what would become "Because of Winn-Dixie". [Margolies, Jane (2006-02-21). " [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/21/books/21dica.html Pleasantly Stunned, a Star Children's Author Hits the Tour Trail Again] ". "The New York Times".]

Career

Her 2003 novel "The Tale of Despereaux" was inspired by a friend's son who asked her to write a story about an unlikely hero with "exceptionally large ears". [Blais, Jacqueline (2004-01-14). " [http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2004-01-15-dicamillo-newbery_x.htm Author's Newbery is no small thrill] ". "USA TODAY".]

In 2005, "Because of Winn-Dixie" was released as a film by 20th Century Fox. Films of "The Tale of Despereaux" and "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" are in production.

Animals feature very prominently in her books: Winn-Dixie, the stray dog, a caged tiger, Despereaux the gallant mouse, Edward the china rabbit and Mercy the pet pig.

Published Works

Novels

*"Because of Winn-Dixie" (2000)
*"The Tiger Rising" (2001)
*"The Tale of Despereaux" (2004)
*"The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" (2006)

Early Chapter Books

*"Mercy Watson to the Rescue" (2005)
*"Mercy Watson Fights Crime" (2006)
*"Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride" (2006)
*"Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise" (2007)
*"Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig" (due August 2008)because of winn dixie

Picture Books

*"Great Joy" (2007) - Illustrator Bagram Ibatoulline.

Awards

*1998 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Writers
*2000 Josette Frank Award, "Because of Winn-Dixie"
*2001 Newbery Honor, "Because of Winn-Dixie" [American Library Association. [http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberyhonors/2001newberymedal.htm 2001 Newbery Medal and Honor Books] .]
*2001 National Book Award finalist, youth category, "The Tiger Rising"
*2004 Newbery Medal, "The Tale of Despereaux"
*2006 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction, "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane"
*2007 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor, "Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride" [American Library Association. [http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/january2007/geisel07.htm Laura McGee Kvasnosky wins Geisel Award for “Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways”] . Press release. January 22, 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://www.katedicamillo.com/ Kate DiCamillo's Home Page]
*
* [http://www.candlewick.com/authill.asp?b=Author&m=bio&id=1989&pix=y Kate DiCamillo bio] on Candlewick Press website
* [http://wilsonbiographies.com/print/jrauthorbk_9th_dicamillo.htm Kate DiCamillo profile] in "Ninth Book of Junior Authors & Illustrators"
*http://www.hsus.org

Interviews

* [http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=3477 2002 National Book Festival webcast] , 12 October 2002
*Scholastic interviews: [http://teacher.scholastic.com/authorsandbooks/events/dicamillo/transcript_2003.htm March 2003] , [http://content.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=10530_type=Contributor_typeId=2445 27 January 2005] and [http://teacher.scholastic.com/authorsandbooks/events/dicamillo/transcript_flat_012805.htm 28 January 2005]
*BBC [http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/uk/newsid_3758000/3758705.stm Q&A with author Kate DiCamillo] , 14 June 2004
* [http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=3592 2004 National Book Festival webcast] , 9 October 2004
* [http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6312751.html Under Cover video interview with Kate DiCamillo] , "School Library Journal", 3 March 2006

Persondata
NAME=DiCamillo, Kate
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=American children's author.
DATE OF BIRTH=March 25, 1964
PLACE OF BIRTH=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=