

Kate is a best-selling author and artist from Houston, Texas. She studied architecture at Yale and Norwegian boat building through the Mortimer Hays-Brandeis Fellowship, after which she made her way out to Los Angeles to work as a concept artist in animation. She has worked for studios including Disney, Dreamworks, and Roosterteeth in roles ranging from visual development to background design. She is currently a location designer at Disney TV Animation.
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Her first middle grade novel, Maple’s Theory of Fun, written and illustrated with Ruthie Prillaman, was named a USA Today best-seller. Kate is also the author and illustrator of the nonfiction picture book Sustainable Structures, which was selected as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection as well as a National Science and Teach Association and Children's Book Council 2025 Best STEM book of the year.
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Her art often explores whimsy architecture with wonky, handmade imperfections.​ In her free time, she enjoys building furniture from scrap wood on the street, biking around LA, and overwatering her plants. She is repped by Alex Weiss at Azantian Literary.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION​
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2025 NSTA Best Stem Book of the Year | Emmy nomination for Background Design (2025) | Evanston Library Blueberry Honor Award Green Earth Book Award Short List | Junior Library Gold Standard Selection | Los Angeles Individual Artist Fellowship Award | USA Today Best Seller list for Maple’s Theory of Fun | Mortimer Hays-Brandeis Traveling Arts Fellowship | Yale Creative Arts Award
SELECTED PRESS
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Bold Journey | Apple Podcasts: Basic Brainheart | Kirkus Review | Wooden Boat Magazine (Print) | National Science Teaching Association | Junior Library Guild | Publisher's Weekly


