Author Study

Kimberly Willis Holt While doing a 12 hour tutoring session last semester was the first time that I was introduced to Kimberly Willis Holt. The magnificent kindergarten teacher who I was observing was a big fan. After doing a lot of research of Mrs. Holt’s life I can see why she has been such a big hit. Her work ranges from children aged 6-18. She is an author of a lot of young adult literature, and a few works targeting beginning elementary aged student. As a future teacher I would recommend this author to be studied by students between 4th and 9th graders. Kimberly Willis Holt was born in Pensacola, Florida. Her mother worked hard as a teacher and father was in the Navy which forced her and her family to relocate every few years. She was a very shy girl growing up, and she claims to have had difficulty making friends. Holt claims that most of her books come as inspirations of something that see has either seen, or occurred in her lifetime. In her personal biographies she goes into details of how she thought of ideas for the book When Zachary Beaver Came in Town. She has been an award winning author multiple times including her book My Louisiana Sky, which won the Boston Globe Hornbook Award in 1998 and also the National Book Award. Aside from being an award winning author Kimberly Holt is a wife and a dedicated mother to her daughter named Shannon.