Katherine Paterson is an award-winning American author of books for children.
She was born in China on October 31, 1932 to missionary parents. She graduated with a degree in English from King College in Bristol, Tennessee. She then spent a year at a rural school in Virginia before going to graduate school. She received a Master's degree from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (Richmond, VA) and then worked as a missionary in Japan. She and her husband, John, have four children (two biological and two adopted) and seven grandchildren.
Her first novel was written while taking an adult education course in creative writing. Her awards include the National Book Award (Master Puppeteer, 1976; The Great Gilly Hopkins, 1979), the Newbery Medal (Bridge to Terabithia, 1977; Jacob Have I Loved, 1981), the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (Jip, His Story), the Hans Christian Andersen Medal (body of work, 1998), and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (2006). Katherine Paterson believes children's books should deal with contemporary, realistic themes. Some of her books feature difficult themes such as the death of a loved one.
The Bridge to Terabithia has been adapted into film twice: Bridge to Terabithia (1985 film) and Bridge to Terabithia (2007 film). The 2007 version is a Disney and Walden Media co-production. One of the producers and screenwriters for the 2007 version is Paterson's son David L. Paterson, whose name appears on the dedication page of the novel "The Bridge to Terabithia".
Katherine Paterson is also the vice-president of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance ([1]), a not-for-profit organization that advocates for literacy, literature, and libraries.

Juvenile and Young Adult Novels

The Angel and the Donkey, 1996.
The King's Equal, 1996
Celia and the Sweet, Sweet Water, 1998.
Tale of the Mandarin Ducks, 1990.
The Wide-Awake Princess, 2000.
Blueberries for the Queen, 2004. Picture Books
Japanese
Russian

The Crane Wife by Sumiko Yagawa, 1981.
The Tongue-Cut Sparrow by Momoko Ishii,1987.
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Lur'e, 1982.
Jacob have I loved by Natalia Trauberg, 2001.
Bridge to Terabithia by Natalia Trauberg, 2003. Translations

The Field of the Dogs, 2001.
Marvin One Too Many, 2001.
Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever, 1997.
The Smallest Cow in the World, 1991.
Parzival: The Quest of the Grail Knight, 1998. Christmas Short Story Collections

Astrid Lindgren Award for Lifetime Achievement 2006, www.alma.se
Literary Light, Boston Public Library 2000
Living Legend Library of Congress 2000
Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Writing 1998
Lion of the New York Public Library 1998
Who's Who in American Women 1995 to present
King College, Outstanding Alumnus 1993-1994
Education Press Friend of Education Award 1993
Anne V. Zarrow Award, Tulsa Public Library 1993
New England Book Award 1992
US Nominee Hans Christian Andersen Award 1989
Regina Medal, Catholic Library Association 1988
Children's Literature Award, Keene State College 1987
Kerlan Award, University of Minnesota 1983
University of Southern Mississippi Medallion 1983
Scott O'Dell Award for Children's Literature 1982
US Nominee Hans Christian Andersen Medal 1979
Who's Who in America 1978 to present
The Union Medal, Union Theological Seminary New York