Katherine Paterson author page

Katherine Paterson biography

Katherine Paterson is an American author known for her contributions to children’s and young adult literature. She was born in Qing Jiang, Jiangsu, China, to missionary parents. Paterson is the author of more than 30 books, including novels, picture books, and non-fiction.

Her novel Bridge to Terabithia, published in 1977 by Thomas Crowell, won the Newbery Medal in 1978. Another of her novels, The Great Gilly Hopkins, published in 1978, received a Newbery Honor and won the National Book Award for Children’s Literature in 1979. Paterson’s 1980 novel Jacob Have I Loved also won the Newbery Medal in 1981. She received a second National Book Award for The Master Puppeteer in 1977.

Paterson’s other notable works include Come Sing, Jimmy Jo (1985), Lyddie (1991), Jip, His Story (1996), and The Same Stuff as Stars (2002). Her books have been translated into multiple languages and are widely held in libraries worldwide.

She served as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature in the United States from 2010 to 2011. In 2006, Paterson received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, an international prize for children’s literature. She was also awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing in 1998, recognising her lasting contribution to children’s literature.

In 2013, Paterson published Stories of My Life, a memoir. Her work continues to be recognised for its impact on children’s literature, with Bridge to Terabithia remaining one of her most celebrated novels.