Children’s author Katherine Paterson says she was summoned by books, to not only read them, but to also write them. And since 1964, she’s written more than 35 of them. She’s also won nearly every award imaginable for an author, including two Newbery Medals for Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved. Two years ago the Swedish government awarded her the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
And, this week she’ll receive a "Puppet’s Choice" award from Kids on the Block-Vermont. Paterson continues to write from her home in Barre. She speaks with VPR’s Jane Lindholm about what keeps her writing and about her efforts to improve childhood literacy.