Kate DePalma author page

Kate DePalma biography

Kate DePalma is a children’s author, editor and teacher. She studied Latin and Greek at Loyola University New Orleans and later completed a master’s degree at the University of Texas on a Mellon Fellowship. Her publishing career began with a copyediting fellowship at the University of Texas Press before she moved into children’s publishing at Peachtree Publishers. She joined Barefoot Books in 2010 and is a Senior Editor there, editing and art directing picture books as well as writing her own titles.

DePalma co-wrote Barefoot Books Children of the World, originally published as The Barefoot Book of Children, with Tessa Strickland. Illustrated by David Dean, the book explores the everyday experiences, cultures and lives of children around the world. It won a Gold Medal at the 2016 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, a Tillywig Brain Child Award and a Silver Award for Juvenile Nonfiction in the 2016 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards, followed by a Gold Nautilus Book Award in 2017.

Her books for Barefoot Books also include Let’s Celebrate! Special Days Around the World and Harvest Days: Giving Thanks Around the World, both illustrated by Martina Peluso; Joy to the World! Christmas Around the Globe, illustrated by Sophie Fatus; and the geology picture book A Rainbow of Rocks. The Bread Pet, illustrated by Nelleke Verhoeff, follows Cora as the sourdough starter entrusted to her grows rapidly, introducing mathematical ideas including doubling and measurement alongside fermentation. It received a Silver Nautilus Book Award in 2021.

DePalma has also written children’s books under the name Sunny Scribens, including My Friend Robot! and, with Stella Blackstone, Baby’s First Words. Her Harvest Days, published by Barefoot Books in 2022, presents harvest traditions from 12 cultures and was named a 2023 Carolyn W. Field Honor Book.