Kathleen T. Pelley

Kathleen Pelley was born in Glasgow, Scotland, but spent most of her childhood summers playing on her grandparents’ farm in Ireland. Her passion for stories stemmed from listening to them on the BBC radio during the children’s story hour. Later, her gentle Irish father fanned the flame even more by feeding her his tales of fairies, leprechauns, and banshees.

So much did Kathleen love stories, that off she went to Edinburgh University and earned a degree in HiSTORY. She didn’t much care for all the facts and dates and numbers, but how she loved the stories of Rasputin, Napoleon, and Bonnie Prince Charlie! One character in particular captured Kathleen’s imagination—Florence Nightingale. After completing her degree, Kathleen studied to become a children’s nurse, but it was a brief and disastrous dalliance. For much as Kathleen loved children, she did not like to see them sick and suffering. However, decades later, Kathleen now sees herself as a kind of a nurse, because she believes that stories can heal the hurts in our hearts.

As a former elementary teacher, Kathleen enjoys sharing her passion with people of all ages. She is a regular speaker at Regis University on “Nurturing a Passion for Stories,” makes frequent presentations at schools and conferences, and has been telling stories at an inner city elementary school for the past 16 years. When she’s not reading, writing, telling, or listening to stories, Kathleen enjoys knitting, Scottish music, and hiking with her husband and two Golden Retriever dogs along the trails of sunny Colorado.




			The Sandal Artist illustrated by Lois Sprague Pelican Publishing, 2012 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1589809109 Though Roberto--a young artist--struggles to put bread on his table, he believes that he will soon achieve wealth and fame by creating beautiful scenes with his paintbrush. Roberto refuses to paint images of the poor village children or Old Stefano and his donkey. One day, a cobbler lends the artist a pair of sandals to wear while he mends Roberto's shoes. The cobbler then whispers: "There are some who say that if you wear another man's shoes, you will see the world with his eyes and feel it with his heart." When Roberto returns to his village, he suddenly perceives the splendor in everyday life and begins to paint with inspiration. Illustrations reminiscent of works from the Renaissance complement this story that reminds us all of our own inner greatness.



			Raj the Bookstore Tiger illustrated by Paige Keiser Charlesbridge, 2011 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1580892308 Raj is a bookstore cat with the heart of a tiger. But when he runs against a bully--a new bookstore cat named Snowball--Raj starts to doubt his inner tiger. With help from his owner and some wise words from a famous poet, Raj regains his confidence and helps Snowball do the same.



			Magnus Maximus, A Marvelous Measurer illustrated by S.D. Schindler Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010 ages 5 to 9, ISBN 978-0374-34725-3 Magnus Maximus is a marvelous measurer. He can measure all kinds of Nesses from the wobbliness of a jellyfish, to the itchiness of an itch. But one day, when he accidentally breaks his glasses and can no longer see to measure, he faces a dreadful dilemma. An activity guide is available for this title. Awards & Recognition Starred review in Library Media Connection; foreign rights sold to Korea, Japan, and China



			Inventor McGregor illustrated by Michael Chesworth Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2006 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0374336066 Because he can invent just about anything to make the world a little better and brighter, folks call him Inventor McGregor. In between his work, he likes to stroll down the winding lane behind his house, where he sings a snippet of a song, paints a picture, and twirls a whirl of a fling. One day the Royal Society of Inventors persuades McGregor to leave his daily distractions and come to work for them in the city. But in his new laboratory, McGregor finds it’s not so easy to invent… Awards and Recognition The Colorado Book Award 2007; Bank Street Best Book, 2007



			The Giant King illustrated by Maurie J. Manning Child Welfare League of America Press, 2003 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0878688807 Some say that Rabbie, the carpenter’s son, is a dreamer, but Rabbie says that he works from his heart, carving not what is, but what can be. When Rabbie goes to a distant town to sell his carvings, he finds the town besieged by a fierce giant. The townspeople despair, but Rabbie suggests that if they treat the giant like a king, then he might behave like one. An activity guide is available for this title. Awards and Recognition Audio version - NAPPA honors award in Storytelling category