Award-winning Author Katherine Paterson Pens Original Short Story to Share with America’s Young Readers
Story and Complementary Education Materials Provided Online to Inspire Parents, Guardians, and Educators to Get Kids Reading and Writing this Summer
FRANKLIN, Massachusetts (June 9, 2020)―Even the most successful writers have nightmares about failure. Such a dream provided the inspiration for a short story beloved author Katherine Paterson wrote for her grandchildren. This story, titled “William and the Mysterious Brame,” has been offered as a gift to America’s young readers and is available free for all on the website of The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (thencbla.org).
To maximize the educational opportunities afforded by the story, the website also includes a series of complementary activities designed to get kids reading and writing, as well as additional resources for learning more about the extensive work of Katherine Paterson.
In her introduction, Paterson shares the genesis for the story, an old letter she had sent to writer friend Stephanie Tolan in which Paterson had described a bad dream she had experienced regarding the upcoming publication of a new book. Paterson says, “Some people might imagine that I don’t get worried when I have a new book coming out. If you’re one of those people, this letter will prove you wrong.”
To locate the story and associated educational activities, visit thencbla.org, select EDUCATION from the menu, then select HOMESCHOOLING RESOURCE CENTER.
Katherine Paterson is the author of more than 30 books, including 16 novels for children and young people. She has twice won the Newbery Medal, for Bridge to Terabithia in 1978 and Jacob Have I Loved in 1981. The Master Puppeteer won the National Book Award in 1977 and The Great Gilly Hopkins won the National Book Award in 1979 and was also a Newbery Honor Book.
For the body of her work she received the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1998, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2006, and in 2000 was named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress. In 2019 Katherine was awarded the E.B. White Award by the American Academy of Art and Letters “in recognition of an exceptional lifetime body of work.”
She is a vice-president of the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance and is a member of the board of trustees for Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is also an honorary lifetime member of the International Board of Books for Young People and an Alida Cutts lifetime member of the US section, USBBY. She is the 2010-2011 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (the NCBLA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by award-winning young people’s authors and illustrators. Acting as an independent creative agent or in partnership with interested parties, the NCBLA develops original projects, programs, and educational outreach that advocate for and educate about literacy, literature, libraries, the arts, and humanities. Learn more on the NCBLA websites thencbla.org and OurWhiteHouse.org, and keep up with NCBLA news and projects on our Facebook page.
