by Lacey Simmons

Created on: September 11, 2008   Last Updated: September 18, 2008

Katherine Paterson whom is best known by her novel "Bridge to Teribithia" is an author of children's books as well as young adult books and picture books. Paterson's books teach children to overcome difficult situations . She tackles topics such as jealousy and death in the views of children and young adults .
Early Years
Katherine Paterson, award winning American author of children's books, was born on October 31, 1932. Paterson was born to Christian missionaries in Qing Jiang, China. When she was five years old Paterson and her family were forced to leave China due to the Japanese invasion in 1937. From there the family moved to Virginia before returning to Shanghai, China. Paterson and her family would move up to fifteen times between China and the United States during her childhood.

Paterson was lonely as a child because of her frequent moving. She never really had the chance to settle in before having to move again. She turned to writing to release her emotions. When she was in school she wrote many plays. In 1954 she graduated from King College with a degree in English. Paterson then taught at an elementary school in Virginia for one year. Afterwards she returned to school, The Presbyterian School of Christian education, where she received a master's degree.
After graduating she went to Japan and worked as a missionary and Christian education assistant. She studied Japanese and Chinese culture. While she was there, this influenced much of her writing. Four years later she traveled to New York to work on her second mater's degree in religious education.
In 1962 Paterson married Reverend John Paterson, a Presbyterian minister. They later had four children, John, David, Elizabeth, and Mary.
Her professional career began at the Presbyterian Church by teaching Sunday school. In 1966 she wrote her novel "Who am I?" she was unable to get any of her novels published. It was then that Patterson decided to take an adult creative writing course; during the time of this course her first novel was published.
"The sign of the chrysanthemum", her first children's novel was published in 1973. Later in 1977 Paterson's most recognized book "Bridge to Terabithia", was published. The novel was written for her son who was dealing with the death of a friend. This particular book was very controversial, despite this it was made into a film in 1985 and again in 2007.
As her career expanded she received the National Book Award for "Master Puppeteer", The Newberry Medal for "Bridge to Terabithia" , The Scott O'Dell Award for historical fiction , The Hans Christian Anderson Medal , and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
Paterson is currently the Vice- President of the National Children's book and Literacy Alliance. She continues to write and recently finished and released a new novel, "Bread and Roses Too." Her novel "The Great Gilly Hopkins" will be coming to the big screen in early 2009.

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