Kate DiCamillo
Born: March 25, 1964 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Kate DiCamillo is an American author of children’s literature whose work explores friendship, loss, hope, and resilience. She is best known for Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, Flora & Ulysses, and the Mercy Watson series. A two-time Newbery Medal winner, she has become one of the most widely read contemporary children’s writers.
Biography & Author's Journey
Kate DiCamillo was born in Philadelphia on March 25, 1964, but the landscape that most decisively shaped her imagination was central Florida. As a child with chronic pneumonia, she moved at age five with her mother and brother to Clermont, Florida, where reading became both refuge and apprenticeship. She has said that illness taught her to entertain herself with books, and the small-town Southern world she entered, with its distinctive speech, stray tenderness, and eccentric names, later reappeared throughout her fiction. At the University of Florida, where she majored in English, she first decided she wanted to be a writer, though the ambition would take years to become a profession. ((https://www.katedicamillo.com/about/))
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Community Voices
"Kate DiCamillo has a gift"
— The New York Times Book Review
"Kate DiCamillo is the author whose books I anticipate with the most delight"
— Dean Koontz
"Kate DiCamillo is not only one of our finest writers for young people but also an outstanding advocate for the importance of reading"
— James Billington
"Children's writer Kate DiCamillo is known for beloved stories like 'The Tale of Despereaux' and 'Because of Winn-Dixie."
— Associated Press
"Kate DiCamillo's books made my world a better place. They changed my life"
— Ann Patchett
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
