Kate DiCamillo is the author of many books for young readers. Her books have been awarded the Newbery Medal (Flora & Ulysses in 2014 and The Tale of Despereaux in 2004); the Newbery Honor (Because of Winn-Dixie, 2001), the Boston Globe Horn Book Award (The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, 2006), and the Theodor Geisel Medal and honor (Bink and Gollie, co-author Alison McGhee, 2011; Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride, 2007). Many of DiCamillo’s main characters struggle with loss, but they also encounter characters who are joyful, wise, and loving. In a 2018 Horn Book review, professor emerita of children’s and young adult literature at Texas Woman’s University, Betty Carter, described DiCamillo’s books as possessing, “The overarching themes addressing forgiveness, love, friendship, acceptance, home, and family.” DiCamillo has written books for youth that foster a love of reading for all reading levels ranging from picture books to upper middle grade. Children of all ages are able to discover fantastic, imaginative stories that draw them into a world with which they can identify. A native of Florida, DiCamillo now lives in Minneapolis. After being appointed as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature by the Library of Congress in 2014, DiCamillo now serves as Ambassador Emeritus.