Afflicted with chronic pneumonia as a child, Kate DiCamillo found solace in books and dreamed of becoming a writer. Her first book, Because of Winn-Dixie, the story of a lonely girl and her dog, resonated with audiences and earned DiCamillo a Newbery Honor. A later book, The Tale of Despereaux, won her the Newbery Medal. DiCamillo has written many more stories, some of which have been adapted to film, and has won many more major awards for her work. Readers will learn about a cherished author and about the value of perseverance.