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More About Kate Allen Fox (She/Her)

Kate Allen Fox is an award-winning author of lyrical picture books about science and nature. Her debut picture book, Pando, A Living Wonder of Trees (illustrated by Turine Tran, published by Capstone), was named one of the best books of 2021 by School Library Journal, Pittsburgh Public Schools, and Chicago Public Library and a finalist for the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award.

A Few Beautiful Minutes: Experiencing a Solar Eclipse (illustrated by Khoa Le, published by Little, Brown Young Readers), received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus, as well as being named an NCTE Honor Book in the Language Arts, a Texas Topaz Nonfiction Gem, and a "Best Book of 2023" by Chicago Public Library. Beaming Books published Winter Solstice Wish (illustrated by Elisa Paganelli), in 2024, also to critical praise.

Scratching the Surface: Exploring Earth's Layers (illustrated by Erin Brown, published by Capstone) was published in 2025, while Summer Solstice Wish (illustrated by Elisa Paganelli, published by Beaming Books) is scheduled to come out in 2026. Kate's first book for adults, Go Play: How Parents Can Empower Kids to Build Their Own Worlds (co-authored with Gennie Gorback), a parenting book about the power of play, will be published by Broadleaf Books in 2026. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times and McSweeney’s.

When not writing, Kate can be found running, performing improv theatre, and homeschooling her two kids. She is represented by Leslie Zampetti of Open Book Literary.

You can find Kate online at:

kateallenfox.com

Instagram

#EclipseInTheValley2024 Event with Kate Allen Fox

Kate’s strengths are…

Understanding nonfiction and nontraditional structures
Crafting line-level writing that sings
Focusing on metaphor and poetic devices
Creating strong pitches, especially for nontraditional narratives
Exploring what makes STEM and nonfiction concepts marketable and compelling
Guiding writers to discover the heart of their manuscript

What Kate is looking for…

Kate is looking for a mentee who is passionate about their topic area and in creating meaningful reading experiences for kids.

Her ideal mentee is excited to nerd about poetic devices AND whatever area they are writing about. Kate is interested in working with someone who wants to explore different structures, is wild about revision and rewrites, and understands the impact of a single word in a picture book manuscript.

At the same time, her ideal mentee will be looking for a mentorship full of fun, laughter, and new perspectives (for both of us!). Her ideal mentee does not mind her overuse of parenthetical phrases (most of the time).

A Note from Kate:

“Your curiosity is your greatest asset as a writer. That applies to the research process for nonfiction topics, of course, but also finding the heart of your story. Thinking about WHY you're interested in a topic can unlock so many layers to your story. If you're stuck in a revision or bogged down in unending research, consider what drew you to the topic in the first place. That touchstone of your own curiosity will guide you to the right version of your story for *you.* Well-intentioned feedback from critique partners and even agents and editors can sometimes guide you away from your vision and purpose. Stick to it. Fight for it. It's what makes your story yours.”

Kate’s Picture Books:

Please note that Kate writes in other markets, and you can click here to see her full catalog.

*Pando: A Living Wonder of Trees,* written by Kate Allen Fox and illustrated by Turine Viet-Tu Tran

*Scratching the Surface*, written by Kate Allen Fox and illustrated by Erin Brown

*A Few Beautiful Minutes: Experiencing a Solar Eclipse*, written by Kate Allen Fox and illustrated by Khoa Le

*Winter Solstice Wish*, written by Kate Allen Fox and illustrated by Elisa Paganelli

*Summer Solstice Wish*, written by Kate Allen Fox and illustrated by Elisa Paganelli (COMING APRIL 2026)

If Kate 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.