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More About Caroline Kusin Pritchard (She/Her)

**Languages: English, moderate Spanish**

Caroline grew up as the youngest of four children in Dallas, TX and spent her childhood sneaking extra helpings of noodle kugel from her bubbe’s kitchen. She moved to California for college and has spent her career working across education, everything from teaching brilliant third graders to helping develop federal policy.

Caroline is the author of many books for children including Gitty and Kvetch, Where is Poppy, What Jewish Looks Like, The Day the Books Disappeared, and The Keeper of Stories with more books on the way. Her picture book The Keeper of Stories received an Orbis Pictus Honor Award, California Reading Association’s 2025 Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and three starred reviews. It was also selected as a Best Book of 2025 by Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus. Where is Poppy is a Kansas National Education Association’s Reading Circle Recommended Title, and Gitty and Kvetch is a PJ Library selection and Tablet Magazine Best Picture Book of 2021.

Caroline also co-hosts the Kidlit Happy Hour podcast alongside author Joanna Ho. Caroline has her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in the Bay Area, California with her husband (Tavita) and four kiddos (Afi, Manu, Leone and Tala).

You can find Caroline online at:

www.carolinekusinpritchard.com

Instagram

Caroline’s strengths include…

Characterization
Voice
Story structure
Analyzing mentor texts
A range of revision techniques
Knowing the rules so we can (giddily!) break the rules
Direct, specific and encouraging feedback

What Caroline is looking for…

Caroline is excited to work with a mentee who delights in the experience of crafting a heartfelt story and pouring into the revision process.

She works best with people who value direct, honest communication and who geek out over revising as much as she does.

A Note from Caroline:

“I feel genuinely electrified when I'm given the opportunity to share in someone's storytelling process. It is one of life's most special privileges, and I will treat it with the respect and tenderness it deserves.

I'm especially eager to read stories that could have only been written by this exact creator. These are stories where I can feel your passion, your humor, your intensity, your worldview and your VOICE! Nothing tickles me more than a story that subverts expectations or one that hits that tender chord I simply can't forget.”

Caroline’s Picture Books

*The Day the Books Disappeared,* written by Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illustrated by Dan Santat

*What Jewish Looks Like,* written by Liz Kleinrock and Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illustrated by Iris Gottlieb

*The Keeper of Stories,* written by Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illustrated by Selina Alko

*Where Is Poppy?,* written by Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte

*Gitty and Kvetch,* written by Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illustrated by Ariel Landy

If Caroline created a Visual Wish List, it would be made up of…

*Unless otherwise stated, the below serves as a wish list only. Each mentor is excited about the opportunity to find a manuscript they can’t stop thinking about. Please apply if you think you’d be a good fit.