From a very young age, illustrator KATE GARCHINSKY felt a deep connection with nature. Her very first word was “bird,” taught to her by her mother while they tossed food out for the sparrows to eat. Growing up in a bustling household with five younger siblings, she found solace in her room, where she would immerse herself in her artistic pursuits. Other times, you would catch her sitting like a feathered friend on the branches of the red maple tree in her front lawn, engaging in heartfelt conversations with the squirrels. As she ventured into adulthood, Kate decided to combine her love for art and nature, channeling her creativity into illustrating and writing children’s books. Her work is a testament to the beauty and magic of the natural world. So, prepare to embark on a journey through her enchanting illustrations in captivating stories, as Kate Garchinsky invites you to experience the wonders of nature through the eyes of a child.

Kate creates her best work late at night while nibbling on squares of dark chocolate and listening to her favorite music by The Cure. When she’s not busy in her studio, Kate and her husband, Brian, enjoy traveling and taking long bird walks through the woods with their dog, Ruby Roo. Their two kitties, Julia and Spenser watch birds and otherwise wreak havoc safely inside their home in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania.

Kate earned her BFA at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she received the Thornton Oakley Medal for Excellence in Illustration in 1997. Her children’s book debut, The Secret Life of the Red Fox (written by Laurence Pringle), was listed as a 2017 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book, a Eureka! Silver Award Winner by the California Reading Association, and an Ezra Jack Keats Award nominee. Since then she has illustrated six additional narrative non-fiction books for chilldren, recognized for excellence with starred reviews by the School Library Journal and Booklist, among others. Kate’s books and natural history paintings have earned accolades from The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the Delaware Valley Ornithological Society, and the National Outdoor Book Awards. Kate is a PAL member of the SCBWI. She leads art and natural history programs, both in-person and virtually. Her ultimate goal is to inspire her readers to be lifelong stewards of the natural world.

Interact with Kate on her Instagram and Twitter feeds @katesnowbird.