Author Photos
Book Covers
Author Bio – The Short Version
New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner is passionately curious and has written over seventy books for kids who wonder, too. Her titles include award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow , The Next Scientist, and The Scariest Kitten in the World as well as novels for older readers like Breakout and The Trouble with Heroes. Kate also writes the popular History Smashers graphic nonfiction series and the Ranger in Time historical adventures, and she leads the multi-author team behind The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class chapter books. Kate lives on Lake Champlain and is a proud Adirondack 46er. Learn more at www.katemessner.com.
Author Bio – The Long Version
New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner is passionately curious and has written over seventy books for kids who wonder, too. Her titles include award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow , The Next Scientist, and The Scariest Kitten in the World as well as novels for older readers like Breakout and The Trouble with Heroes. Kate also writes the popular History Smashers graphic nonfiction series and the Ranger in Time historical adventures, and she leads the multi-author team behind The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class chapter books. Kate lives on Lake Champlain and is a proud Adirondack 46er.
Kate’s titles are frequently selected for One School, One Book and One School/One Author programs and other community-wide reads. Her books have been New York Times Notable, Junior Library Guild, IndieBound, and Bank Street College of Education Best Books selections. Her novel The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. won the E.B. White Read Aloud Medal, and her science picture books have been finalists for the American Academy for the Advancement of Sciences/Subaru SB&F prize for excellence in science writing. In 2020, Kate was honored with New York’s Knickerbocker Award for creating a superior body of work supporting curriculum and educational goals.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Kate was a TV news reporter as well as a National Board Certified educator. She grew up in Medina, NY and graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Kate spent seven years working as a television news producer and reporter in Syracuse, NY and Burlington, VT before going back to school to earn a master’s degree in education for secondary-level English Language Arts. She taught middle school language arts for fifteen years before leaving the classroom to write full time but still spends much of her time in schools, working with kids as a visiting author.
Articles and Interviews
“Kate Messner: The Grown-Up Version of ‘That Kid With a Million Questions'” Mackin Library (January 15, 2021)
“Don’t Shy Away from Talking to Your Kids about the Capitol Riot.” Washington Post (January 7 2021)
“The Virtual School Author Visit Evolves” Publishers Weekly (December 11, 2020)
“Read All About It: History Smashers” Ashville Citizen Times (October 27, 2020)
“5 Books that Teach Children about Presidential Elections” San Francisco Chronicle (October 23, 2020)
“Why More Children’s Books are Tackling Sexual Harassment and Abuse” New York Times, June 17, 2020
“Book about Burmese Pythons Spotlights Efforts to Save Ecosystem” Florida Weekly (April 16, 2020)
“A 12-Year-Old Gymnast Heals After a Coach’s Sexual Abuse” New York Times (March 27, 2020)
“Streaming Storytime: Plattsburgh Children’s Author Organizes Online Video Library” NCPR (March 20, 2020)
“Kate Messner on Spring Kids’ Indie Next List Pick CHIRP” American Booksellers Association (March 4, 2020)
“Medina Native Becomes Prolific Children’s Book Author” Orleans Hub (February 28, 2020)
“HISTORY SMASHERS Are Coming from Random House Kids in July 2020” The Beat (November 6, 2019)
“The Dannemora Prison Escape, Through Middle Schoolers’ Eyes” NCPR (November 15, 2018)
“Author Kate Messner Addresses Race and Incarceration in ‘Breakout’” Seven Days Vermont (December 19, 2018)
“An Interview with Author and Educator Kate Messner” LitWorld (May 24, 2018)
“Four Questions for Kate Messner” Publishers Weekly (May 22, 2018)
“How Banning Books Marginalizes Children” The Atlantic (October 1, 2016)
“Banned Books Week: Author Kate Messner on a Story’s Ability to Broach Real Life Issues” National Coalition Against Censorship (September 27, 2016)
“Throwing a Lifeline and Building Empathy: An Interview with Kate Messner” 24 Carrot Writing (July 12, 2016)
“Building Dark Worlds to Make a Better One: Kate Messner at TED2012” TED Blog (March 2, 2012)
“How to Build a Fictional World” TED-Ed
Kate Messner is passionately curious and writes books for kids who wonder, too. Her award-winning titles include award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow and How to Write a Story; novels like All the Answers, Breakout, and Chirp; engaging nonfiction like The Next President and Tracking Pythons; the Fergus and Zeke easy reader series, the popular Ranger in Time chapter books, and the new History Smashers illustrated nonfiction series, aimed at unraveling historical myths and sharing hidden truths. Learn more at her website, www.katemessner.com