Kate DiCamillo is the author of The Magician's Elephant, a New York Times bestseller; The Tale of Despereaux, which was awarded the Newbery Medal; Because of Winn-Dixie, a Newbery Honor book; and six books starring Mercy Watson, including the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride. She is the co-author of Bink and Gollie, a New York Times bestseller and winner of the 2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award as well as Bink and Gollie: Two for One. Kate DiCamillo lives in Minneapolis.