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Kate DiCamillo Facts & Worksheets

Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo, widely known as Kate DiCamillo, is an award-winning American writer of children's books.

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Kate DiCamillo has written over 25 novels, the majority of which are about children’s fiction. Her literary works sold approximately 37 million copies. She was one of the few authors to receive multiple Newbery Medals.

See the fact file below for more information about Kate DiCamillo, or download the comprehensive worksheet pack, which contains over 11 worksheets and can be used in the classroom or homeschooling environment.

Key Facts & Information

Personal Life

  • On March 25, 1964, she was born as Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo. Betty Lee, her mother, was a teacher, and Adolph Louis, her father, was an orthodontist. Their home was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • She had suffered from chronic pneumonia since she was a child and was often hospitalized. Her family relocated to Clermont, Florida, when she was five years old to help her health concerns and provide her with a warmer climate, while her father remained in Philadelphia. Adolph Louis paid them visits in Florida on occasion.
  • She used to read books as a child and frequently visited the community library.
  • She attended Clermont Elementary before getting admitted to Rollins College, which she later left. As a working student at Walt Disney World, she enrolled at the University of Central Florida. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Florida, Gainesville, in 1987.
  • While in Clermont, she also worked at Circus World, a campground, and a greenhouse.
  • She moved to Minneapolis in 1994 and worked as a picker at The Bookman, a book warehouse and distributor. She was initially disappointed when she was assigned to the children’s book section. She discovered The Watsons Go to Birmingham, a children’s novel she adored and began writing regularly.
  • She pursued a successful writing career throughout her life since her discovery.
  • In 2022, at the age of 58 years old, she had no record of marriage as well as childbirth.

Writing Career

  • In 1998, she met author Louise Erdrich, who encouraged her to write.
  • She began submitting her work to various publishers but received 473 rejection letters.
  • Only her short stories were published in magazines in the early 2000s.
  • She was awarded the McKnight Fellowship in 1998, which allowed her to devote more time to writing.
  • She led a summer reading campaign in the Collaborative Summer Library Program from 2015 to 2016.

List of Works and Awards

  • Because of Winn-Dixie (2000) received the Josette Frank Award and the Newbery Honor. It also won the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award and Mark Twain Award in 2002 and 2003, respectively.
  • The Tiger Rising (2001) was a finalist in the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. According to some literary critics, it had a different style than Because of Winn-Dixie.
  • In 2004, and 2005, The Tale of Despereaux won the Newbery Medal and the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award, respectively. She wrote it in response to a request from a friend’s child.
  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (2006) won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award: Fiction and Poetry and the Parents’ Choice Award 2006. It was also a Quill Awards Finalist.
  • Great Joy (2007)
  • The Magician’s Elephant (2009)
  • “Your Question for Author Here” (2010)
  • “The Third Floor Bedroom” (2011)
  • Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures (2013) was nominated for the 2013 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and won a 2014 Newbery Medal.
  • Raymie Nightingale (2016) became a finalist in the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.
  • Louisiana’s Way Home (2018)
  • Beverly, Right Here (2019)
  • A Piglet Named Mercy (2019)
  • Her most recent work was The Beatryce Prophecy (2021).
  • Mercy Watson Series (2005-2009) is composed of six books, one of which received an honor in the Geisel Award.
  • Bink & Gollie Series (2010-2013) is composed of three books, one of which won the Geisel Award.
  • Deckawoo Drive Series (2014-2017) is composed of four books.

Because of Winn-Dixie

  • It was the first of her books to be accepted for publication by Candlewick Press.
  • It was the story of a girl who adopted a stray dog she found. She wrote it while upset about her apartment’s no-dog policy.
  • It spread even further because Flo Davis supported her visit to Florida schools promoting the book.

Plot and Summary

  • Opal, a 10-year-old girl, was raised solely by her father because her mother abandoned her when she was young. She was dissatisfied when they relocated to Naomi, Florida, where her father was a preacher. Because her father was always busy, she spent the majority of her time alone.
  • She named a stray dog Winn-Dixie after meeting it at the Winn-Dixie grocery store. The dog caused a commotion in the store, so she claimed it to keep him from being taken to the dog pound.
  • Winn-Dixie assisted her in meeting new people. She frequently tells stories and converses with the town librarian and the blind old lady who some believe is a witch. Opal also befriends the pet shop owner, who was once a wanted man. She treasures her friends, even though they are not her age. Loneliness is something she shares with them.
  • She was planning a summer party with the blind old lady, hoping to invite everyone in town. The party gets off to a good start until a storm scares Winn-Dixie. He flees in terror, and Opal has to look for him everywhere.
  • She opens up about her feelings about her mother leaving them while searching for Winn-Dixie with her father. They have a deep conversation in which her father expresses his love for her. She is feeling better. Winn-Dixie is discovered in the home of the blind lady.

Adaptations

  • Her books have had film adaptations as well as theatrical productions.
  • Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux were both adapted into films in 2005 and 2008, respectively.
  • Netflix, American streaming services and production company, also released a film based on her work, The Magician’s Elephant in December 2020.
  • Walt Disney Pictures released a streaming video of Flora & Ulysses on February 19, 2021.
  • In January 2022, the film The Tiger Rising was released.
  • Minnesota Opera adapted The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane in 2017. However, it was canceled and rescheduled for December 20, 2021.
  • The Royal Shakespeare Company premiered a musical adaptation of The Magician’s Elephant in Stratford-upon-Avon in October 2021.

Criticism

  • Her style was said to be influenced by Victorian or Edwardian children’s literature. She frequently wrote about homesickness and hope. Suffering and loneliness were prominent themes in her works, but she also wrote about love, salvation, and emotional transformation.
  • According to author Julie Schumacher, feelings of abandonment heavily influenced her work.
  • The New York Times once featured her diverse writing styles in an article.
  • She admitted that her books did, in some ways, repeat the same themes. She acknowledged her character development shortcomings and followed the story while discovering them. Her childhood experiences heavily influenced her writings.
  • In an article published in Time in 2018, she stated that sadness should be included in every children’s book.

Kate DiCamillo Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about author Kate DiCamillo across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Kate DiCamillo worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Kate DiCamillo, who is an award-winning American writer of children’s books.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Kate DiCamillo Facts
  • Fact or Bluff
  • Find Me
  • What am I?
  • Odd One Out
  • Kate DiCamillo Timeline
  • The Book by its Cover
  • Kate DiCamillo: Notable Works
  • Kate DiCamillo Legacy
  • Kate DiCamillo Acrostic
  • In My Opinion…

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kate DiCamillo do now?

Her most recent work was The Beatryce Prophecy (2021).

Where did Kate DiCamillo get her ideas?

She admitted that her books did, in some ways, repeat the same themes. She acknowledged her character development shortcomings and followed the story while discovering them. Her childhood experiences heavily influenced her writings.

How old is Kate DiCamillo?

In 2022, at the age of 58 years old, she had no record of marriage as well as childbirth.

What is Kate DiCamillo famous for?

Kate DiCamillo has written over 25 novels, the majority of which are about children’s fiction. Her literary works sold approximately 37 million copies. She was one of the few authors to receive multiple Newbery Medals.

How many kids does Kate DiCamillo have?

Kate DiCamillo had no record of marriage as well as childbirth.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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