Kay Chorao
Kay Chorao | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | artist, illustrator and writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Genre | children's book |
Kay Chorao, born as Ann McKay Sproat on January 7, 1936,[1][2][3] (some sources say 1937[4][5]) in Elkhart, Indiana, is an American artist, illustrator and writer of children's books.[6]
Biography
Chorao was born in Elkhart, Indiana, United States, into a middle-class, suburban family.[7] She loved and was encouraged to draw at a young age.[7] Chorao went to Wheaton College, where in 1958 she earned a Bachelor of Arts in art history.[6][3] After that, Chorao pursued her graduate study at Chelsea School of Art from 1958 to 1959.[6]
Chorao got married and had three sons before moving to New York with her family.[3] From 1966 to 1968, she studied book illustration at School of Visual Arts in New York.[6]
Career
Besides writing self-illustrated children's books, Chorao has been the illustrator for many books by Jane Yolen, Judith Viorst, Jan Wahl, and Marjorie Sharmat.[6] Chorao published her first book, The Repair of Uncle Toe, in 1972.[3] Since then, she has written and illustrated more than fifty books.[8] Her illustrations have been exhibited several times by American Institute of Graphic Arts and Society of Illustrators.[6] Chorao has received the Christopher Award twice; the first time in 1979 as the illustrator of Chester Chipmunk's Thanksgiving, by Barbara Williams; and the second time in 1989 as the illustrator of The Good-Bye Book, by Judith Viorst.[9]
In 1975, Chorao illustrated Albert's Toothache, by Barbara Williams. The book was critically successful, being given the American Library Association's notable book citation and Children's Book Showcase title.[7] In 1979, her 1974 book Ida Makes a Movie was adapted into a short film by the same name. In 1988, Chorao published Cathedral Mouse, which was well-received by critics and featured among the ten best children's picture books of the year, by New York Times.[10]
In 1990, Chorao's book Baby’s Lap Book was selected by American Library Association among the list of "Books to Grow On" for children from 6 to 12 months.[11] The following year, she published Here Comes Kate, which was named among the Pick of the decade 1995-2005 "Best books for children" list compiled by New Jersey State Library, Clifton Public Library and Woodbridge Public Library.[12] In 1994, Chorao self-illustrated book Annie and Cousin Precious was picked by International Reading Association as one of the Children's Choices for 1995.[13][7]
Selected Bibliography
- Self-Illustrated
- A Magic Eye for Ida 1973.
- Ralph and the Queen's Bathtub 1974.
- Ida Makes a Movie 1974.
- The Baby's Lap Book (nursery rhymes) 1977, with color illustrations, 1990.
- The Baby's Bedtime Book (poems and rhymes) 1984.
- The Baby's Good Morning Book (poems and rhymes) 1986.
- Cathedral Mouse 1988.
- Baby's Christmas Treasury (poems, stories, and songs) 1991.
- Ida and Betty and the Secret Eggs 1991.
- Annie and Cousin Precious, Dutton (New York, NY), 1994.
- Jumpety-Bumpety Hop: A Parade of Animal Poems 1997.
- Little Farm by the Sea 1998.
- Here Comes Kate2000.
- Illustrator
- Barbara Williams, Albert's Toothache 1974.
- Barbara Williams, Kevin's Grandma 1975.
- Barbara Williams, Someday, Said Mitchell 1976.
- Jan Wahl, Frankenstein's Dog 1977
- Jan Wahl, Dracula's Cat 1978.
- Barbara Williams, Chester Chipmunk's Thanksgiving 1978.
- Marjorie Sharmat, Thornton the Worrier 1978.
- Marjorie Sharmat, Sometimes Mama and Papa Fight 1980.
- Judith Viorst, The Good-bye Book 1988.
- Barbara Seuling, Whose House? 2004.
- Jane Yolen, Grandma's Hurrying Child 2005.
References
- ^ H.W. Wilson Company, Joseph, Bea. Biography Index p. 148
- ^ La Beau, Dennis. Children's authors and illustrators p.31
- ^ a b c d http://childrensliteraturenetwork.net/birthbios/brthpage/01jan/1-7chorao.html
- ^ http://www.educationoasis.com/curriculum/calendar/january.htm
- ^ Mossman, Jennifer. New Pseudonyms and Nicknames: Second Supplement to Pseudonyms and Nicknames p. 73
- ^ a b c d e f http://biography.jrank.org/pages/1708/Chorao-Ann-Mc-Kay-Sproat-1936.html
- ^ a b c d Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature Archived at Google Books
- ^ http://us.macmillan.com/author/kaychorao
- ^ http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dKBrown/christopher.html
- ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE4DB1038F936A35751C1A96E948260&scp=2&sq=kay%20chorao&st=cse
- ^ http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alscresources/booklists/booksgrow.cfm
- ^ http://www.njyac.org/booklists/pdf/all.pdf.
- ^ http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dKBrown/iracc95.html