Kate Dikamillo: biography, creativity

In the United States, the work of the best writers for children is celebrated at the annual award of the Newbury Medal. The names of the authors awarded this award are little known in Russia. Except for Keith Dicamillo. Biography and creativity of the two-time winner of the prestigious American award for literature - the topic of the article.

Childhood

The writer's father was a dental technician. Mother - a teacher. My parents divorced when Kate Dicamillo went to college. The family lived in Florida. As a child, Kate liked to read, but she did not dream of a career as a writer.

Book Shop

After graduation, Kate Dikamillo entered the Faculty of Philology. However, after she received a bachelor's degree in literature and English, I got a job at a bookstore. Probably, the future writer subconsciously attracted to printed publications.

Kate Dikamillo turned thirty years old when she began writing works of art. Unexpectedly for the author of the story about the mouse Despereaux and the rabbit Edward were approved by professionals. The newly-made writer signed an agreement with the publishing house. Her books began to be sold in large copies not only in the US, but throughout the world.

"Thanks to Winn-Dixie"

The way cute and seemingly simple stories are born does not hide Kate Dikamillo. Her books do not have a dashingly twisted plot. Rather, these are stories taken from life, endowed with fabulous motifs. Once Dikamillo overheard a dialogue of unfamiliar girls. One of them told her friend about her dog named Winn-Dixie. On the same day, Dikamillo began writing a book about friendship, love and loneliness.

The heroine of this work one day goes to the store, but returns without purchases. True, she is accompanied by a new friend - a dog who was later named Winn-Dixie.

The heroes of works by Dikamillo are little philosophers. They observe what is happening around them, and expound simple everyday wisdom. The heroine of the book "Thank Winn-Dixie" at the age of nine realizes that life consists of bitterness and sweetness. It is impossible to separate them from each other.

"Soaring Tiger"

To create this story, the writer was inspired by an event that occurred in her city. A tiger escaped from the zoo. Kate Dikamillo suddenly came to mind that a terrible and dangerous animal can experience loneliness - a feeling that is not alien to every person.

The writer created a character who, like an escaped tiger, lacks love, affection. The hero of the book was a boy named Rob. His mother died when he was very young. Rob lived with his father. They often moved, and consequently, the boy constantly changed school, which did not allow him to make friends with his peers. But one day he meets a girl Sikstina, and they find in the forest a cage with a tiger.

"The Adventure of Monsieur Despereaux"

Heroes are often found in fairy tales. As a rule, they are strong and courageous. A mouse doing a feat is an unusual character. But in the books of Kate Dikamillo there are often strange meetings, non-standard fairy-tale heroes. The story of Despereaux's mouse helps young readers to find answers to many questions: what is a feat, what should a real hero be like?

For this work, an animated film was created. It is worth saying that today the very popular works in the cinema are those created by Kate Dikamillo.

Rabbit Edward

To write this book, Dikamillo was inspired by a toy that was once presented to her for Christmas. Before her eyes there was an image - a rabbit from porcelain, caught up on the ocean floor.

The hero of the book was extremely selfish. But unexpected events changed, taught him to love. After all, as one of the characters in the book says, "without love, a journey called" life "loses all meaning."