Background
Kirby Larson was born on August 17, 1954 in Seattle, Washington, United States. She is the daughter of David Neil Miltenberger, a mechanical contractor, and Donna Marie (Brown) Miltenberger, a bookkeeper.
2013
Kirby with her new book Duke at NCTE 2013.
2013
Kirby Larson at the 2013 National Book Festival.
Kirby Larson at the War Dog Memorial.
Guam IRA welcomes Kirby Larson at the airport.
Kirby Larson, Debbie Duenas, and Cyndy Pruski at the entrance to the War Dog Memorial.
Kirby Larson speaks at Guam IRA General Membership Meeting.
Dottie Winterlee presents Kirby Larson with a copy of her book, Grandma's Love. Also pictured, Cyndy Pruski, Debbie Duenas, and Mary Livingston.
Kirby Larson talks to students at a school.
Kirby Larson reads Nubs at the Public Library Story Hour.
Kirby Larson rings the bell for good luck at Two Lover's Point.
Kirby Larson, Debbie Duenas, and Cyndy Pruski at the War Dog Memorial Park.
516 High St, Bellingham, WA 98225, United States
Kirby Larson received from Western Washington State College (now Western Washington University) her Bachelor of Arts in 1976.
1410 NE Campus Pkwy, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
In 1980 Kirby Larson gained her Master of Arts from the University of Washington.
(Quinn and her second-grade classmates are getting ready t...)
Quinn and her second-grade classmates are getting ready to celebrate National Pig Day. Quinn is the only one who has not brought something piggy for the class Pig Patch.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439597668/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i11
1994
(Enjoying his friendship with Quinn, who builds the best f...)
Enjoying his friendship with Quinn, who builds the best forts in town even though she is a girl, Cody is embarrassed when a local bully accuses him of being in love with Quinn, a situation that nearly results in the end of their friendship.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/082341227X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i9
1996
(When Griselda gives shelter for the night to a poor old w...)
When Griselda gives shelter for the night to a poor old woman, the grateful visitor offers her a magic kerchief in thanks, and Griselda accepts the gift not knowing it might be enchanted.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0823414736/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i10
2000
(This Newbery Honor winning, New York Times bestseller cel...)
This Newbery Honor winning, New York Times bestseller celebrates the true spirit of independence on the American frontier. For most of her life, sixteen-year-old Hattie Brooks has been shuttled from one distant relative to another. Tired of being Hattie Here-and-There, she summons the courage to leave Iowa and move all by herself to Vida, Montana, to prove up on her late uncle’s homestead claim. Under the big sky, Hattie braves hard weather, hard times, a cantankerous cow, and her own hopeless hand at the cookstove. Her quest to make a home is championed by new neighbors Perilee Mueller, her German husband, and their children. For the first time in her life, Hattie feels part of a family, finding the strength to stand up against Traft Martin’s schemes to buy her out and against increasing pressure to be a “loyal” American at a time when anything - or anyone - German is suspect. Despite daily trials, Hattie continues to work her uncle’s claim until an unforeseen tragedy causes her to search her soul for the real meaning of home.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010SKTBG/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i1
2006
(During Hurricane Katrina, evacuating New Orleans resident...)
During Hurricane Katrina, evacuating New Orleans residents were forced to leave their pets behind. Bobbi the dog was initially chained to keep her safe, but after her owners failed to return, she had to break free. For months, Bobbi wandered the city's ravaged streets-dragging her chain behind her-followed by her feline companion, Bob Cat. After months of hunger and struggle, the Two Bobbies were finally rescued by a construction worker helping to rebuild the city. When he brought them to a shelter, volunteers made an amazing discovery about the devoted friends-Bob Cat was actually blind! He had survived the aftermath of the storm by following the sound Bobbi's chain made as she dragged it along the ground. At the shelter, the two bob-tailed friends refused to be parted, even for a moment. Could rescue workers find the Bobbies' owners? Or could they find a new home that would take them together? This remarkable true story of devotion and survival is a testament to the spirit that defined post-Katrina rescue missions, and is a perfect way to commemorate the this day in history.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C0WHVTY/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i4
2008
(Nubs, an Iraqi dog of war, never had a home or a person o...)
Nubs, an Iraqi dog of war, never had a home or a person of his own. He was the leader of a pack of wild dogs living off the land and barely surviving. But Nubs's life changed when he met Marine Major Brian Dennis. The two formed a fast friendship, made stronger by Dennis's willingness to share his meals, offer a warm place to sleep, and give Nubs the kind of care and attention he had never received before. Nubs became part of Dennis's human "pack" until duty required the Marines to relocate a full 70 miles away - without him. Nubs had no way of knowing that Marines were not allowed to have pets. So began an incredible journey that would take Nubs through a freezing desert, filled with danger to find his friend and would lead Dennis on a mission that would touch the hearts of people all over the world. Nubs and Dennis will remind readers that friendship has the power to cross deserts, continents, and even species.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006E9CLXU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0
2009
(Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson brings us the first new...)
Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson brings us the first new Dear America diary in years, taking readers through the attack on Pearl Harbor, the start of World War II, and the Japanese incarceration. With this sweeping tale of life on the World War II homefront, Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson brings her incredible talent to the Dear America series. When Pearl Harbor is attacked, America is finally unable to ignore the wars raging in Europe and Asia any longer. And one girl's entire life is about to change when everything she knows is turned on its head. After the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, where her brother, a navy sailor, is stationed, Piper Davis begins chronicling her compelling journey through one of history's most tragic and unforgettable eras.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ES4586/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i9
2011
(With World War II raging and his father fighting overseas...)
With World War II raging and his father fighting overseas in Europe, eleven-year-old Hobie Hanson is determined to do his part to help his family and his country, even if it means giving up his beloved German shepherd, Duke. Hoping to help end the war and bring his dad home faster, Hobie decides to donate Duke to Dogs for Defense, an organization that urges Americans to "loan" their pets to the military to act as sentries, mine sniffers, and patrol dogs. Hobie immediately regrets his decision and tries everything he can to get Duke back, even jeopardizing his friendship with the new boy at school. But when his father is taken prisoner by the Germans, Hobie realizes he must let Duke go and reach deep within himself to be brave. Will Hobie ever see Duke, or his father, again? Will life ever be the same?
https://www.amazon.com/Duke-Dogs-World-War-II/dp/0545416388/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Kirby+Larson&qid=1575634047&s=books&sr=1-1
2013
(After leaving Uncle Chester's homestead claim, orphan Hat...)
After leaving Uncle Chester's homestead claim, orphan Hattie Brooks throws a lasso around a new dream, even bigger than the Montana sky. She wants to be a reporter, knowing full well that a few pieces published in the Arlington News will not suffice. Real reporters must go to Grand Places, and do Grand Things, like Hattie's hero Nellie Bly. Another girl might be stymied by this, but Hattie has faced down a hungry wolf and stood up to a mob of angry men. Nothing can squash her desire to write for a big city newspaper. A letter and love token from Uncle Chester's old flame in San Francisco fuels that desire and Hattie jumps at the opportunity to get there by working as a seamstress for a traveling acting troupe. This could be her chance to solve the mystery of her "scoundrel" uncle and, in the process, help her learn more about herself. But Hattie must first tell Charlie that she will not join him in Seattle. Even though her heart approves of Charlie's plan for their marriage, her mind fears that saying yes to him would be saying no to herself. Hattie holds her own in the big city, literally pitching her way to a byline, and a career that could be even bigger than Nellie Bly's. But can making headlines compensate for the pain of betrayal and lost love? Hattie must dig deep to find her own true place in the world.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008ZPG7FE/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i6
2013
(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend to help girls ages 3 - 5 shine bright! These engaging tales are written by Newbery Honor winner Kirby Larson and illustrated by award-winning artist Sue Cornelison. In this first story, a little girl introduces her new doll, Bitty Baby, to her family, including her prickly big sister. At nap time, the little girl tells Bitty Baby a story about a magical mermaid adventure - but the best magic of all is the creative way the girl makes her wish come true and gets her older sister to play with her.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EPFO2Q4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i7
2013
(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend to help little girls shine bright! In this story, a little girl and her Bitty Baby doll are getting ready for a ballet recital. To calm her pre-performance jitters, the little girl tells Bitty Baby a story about a bunny who overcomes stage fright to win a hopping contest. This enhanced book features animation, activities, and a read-aloud option, plus parenting tips on encouraging children's interests and talents.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EPFO2R8/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i10
2013
(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend to help girls ages 3-5 shine bright! These engaging tales are written by Newbery Honor winner Kirby Larson and illustrated by award-winning artist Sue Cornelison. In this story, a little girl and her Bitty Baby doll are all ready for bed and can't wait for a bedtime story. So the girl tells one of her own - about Princess Bitty Baby, a dragon, and an enchanted frog - and discovers the power of her own storytelling.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EPFO2PU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i0
2013
(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend to help girls ages 3-5 shine bright! These engaging tales are written by Newbery Honor winner Kirby Larson and illustrated by award-winning artist Sue Cornelison. In this story, a little girl and her Bitty Baby doll hear a scary noise in the basement when they visit Grammy and Grampa’s new house. To calm her fears, the little girl tells Bitty Baby a story about overcoming fear with friendship where Bitty Baby goes on an imaginary adventure and meets a gorilla, a boa, and an elephant.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EPFO2PA/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i1
2013
(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend to help girls ages 3-5 shine bright! These engaging tales are written by Newbery Honor winner Kirby Larson and illustrated by award-winning artist Sue Cornelison. In this story, a little girl takes her Bitty Baby doll outside to play in the snow, but her big brother is too busy sledding to help build a snowman. As she waits, the girl tells a story about Bitty Baby and a polar bear and how they learn to play together. When her brother finally arrives, she has solved her own problem.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EPFO2PK/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i4
2013
(Discover the world of Bitty Baby with this story and plus...)
Discover the world of Bitty Baby with this story and plush pack- she's a special new friend to help girls ages 3-5 shine bright! In the included picture book, a little girl wants to build a snowman with her brother, but he's too busy sledding. So instead, she tells her Bitty Baby doll a story about Bitty Baby and a polar bear and how they learn to play together. By the time her brother shows up, she no longer needs help, and he admires the snow caterpillar she has built! Includes a "For Parents" section that suggests ways to encourage positive play with other children. The adorable mini-plush polar bear brings the story to life for your little one!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1609583507/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p3_i1
2013
(New from Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson, the moving st...)
New from Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson, the moving story of a Japanese-American girl who is separated from her dog upon being sent to an incarceration camp during WWII. Although Mitsi Kashino and her family are swept up in the wave of anti-Japanese sentiment following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mitsi never expects to lose her home - or her beloved dog, Dash. But, as World War II rages and people of Japanese descent are forced into incarceration camps, Mitsi is separated from Dash, her classmates, and life as she knows it. The camp is a crowded and unfamiliar place, whose dusty floors, seemingly endless lines, and barbed wire fences begin to unravel the strong Kashino family ties. With the help of a friendly neighbor back home, Mitsi remains connected to Dash in spite of the hard times, holding on to the hope that the war will end soon and life will return to normal. Though they've lost their home, will the Kashino family also lose their sense of family? And will Mitsi and Dash ever be reunited?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I5T2IBM/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i3
2014
(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend to help girls ages 3-5 shine bright! These whimsical tales are written by Newbery Honor winner Kirby Larson and illustrated by award-winning artist Sue Cornelison. In this story, a little girl and Bitty Baby are planning a tea party, and they've invited the new girl next door - but what if she doesn't like tea parties or dressing up? Can they still be friends? A shy, prickly hedgehog helps them discover that good friends can like different things.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HNEK8XU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i11
2014
(Perfect for storytime! This loveable Bitty Baby gift set ...)
Perfect for storytime! This loveable Bitty Baby gift set includes the Bitty Baby Has a Tea Party hardcover picture book about a little girl and her Bitty Baby who discover that even best friends can like different things.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1609584503/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i2
2014
(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend to help girls ages 3-5 shine bright! These engaging tales are written by Newbery Honor winner Kirby Larson and illustrated by award-winning artist Sue Cornelison. In this story, a little girl and Bitty Baby are excited about swimming lessons - until they find out she'll have to put her face underwater. To ease their water worries, the little girl tells Bitty Baby a story about a brave little duckling, who teaches his brothers and sisters that practice makes perfect.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HNEK8UI/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i5
2014
(Fish has a knack for inventing. His annoying neighbor, Ol...)
Fish has a knack for inventing. His annoying neighbor, Olympia, has a knack for messing things up. But when his latest invention leads Fish to Liberty, a beautiful stray dog who needs a home, he and Olympia work together to rescue her. However, a friendship that crosses racial lines is not the norm in 1940s New Orleans. But at the Higgins boatyard, where the boats that just might save the Allied forces during World War II are built, the wartime workforce is integrated and includes women and the disabled. Fish, who suffered from polio and whose dad is away fighting in Europe, looks up to Mr. Higgins, and he's thrilled when one of his inventions helps Mr. Higgins's engineers unlock the mechanics of the landing crafts. Mr. Higgins inspires him to be bold and brave. As Fish enlists the help of unexpected friends and allies to save Liberty, he finds his perceptions of the world - of race and war, family and friendship - transformed.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EXN35JC/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i8
2016
(Audacity Jones is an eleven-year-old orphan who aches for...)
Audacity Jones is an eleven-year-old orphan who aches for adventure, a challenge to break up the monotony of her life at Miss Maisie's School for Wayward Girls. Life as a wayward girl isn't so bad; Audie has the best of friends, a clever cat companion, and plenty of books to read. Still, she longs for some excitement, like the characters in the novels she so loves encounter. So when the mysterious Commodore Crutchfield visits the school and whisks Audie off to Washington, DC, she knows she's in for the journey of a lifetime. But soon, it becomes clear that the Commodore has unsavory plans for Audie - plans that involve the president of the United States and a sinister kidnapping plot. Before she knows it, Audie winds up in the White House kitchens, where she's determined to stop the Commodore dead in his tracks. Can Audie save the day before it's too late?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010BYMVBU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i3
2016
(Audacity Jones and her best friend, Bimmy, are setting of...)
Audacity Jones and her best friend, Bimmy, are setting off from Miss Maisie's School for Wayward Girls on an extraordinary adventure! In the glittering city of New York, the girls meet Harry Houdini, the world's most famous magician, as he prepares a new spectacle: Houdini plans to make an elephant disappear from a crowded theater. But Audacity and Bimmy discover a nefarious plot that puts Houdini's illusion in jeopardy. Who could be trying to sabotage the master magician? Audie will need all her smarts, the help of friends new and old, and even her best juggling skills to solve this mystery. Will she manage to save the show in time? Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson brings readers a magical romp of a mystery that will delight and thrill to the very last page.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HOV15QA/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i6
2017
Kirby Larson was born on August 17, 1954 in Seattle, Washington, United States. She is the daughter of David Neil Miltenberger, a mechanical contractor, and Donna Marie (Brown) Miltenberger, a bookkeeper.
Kirby Larson received her Bachelor of Arts from Western Washington State College (now Western Washington University) in 1976. In 1980 she gained her Master of Arts from the University of Washington.
Before Kirby Larson became a writer, she did everything from cleaning houses to serving on the school board to working in her husband’s office.
She began writing for children about 1990. Her first work, a chapter book called "Second Grade Pig Pals", which is no longer in print, was published in 1994.
Kirby Larson is the acclaimed author of the 2007 Newbery Honor Book "Hattie Big Sky", a young adult historical novel she wrote inspired by her great-grandmother, Hattie Inez Brooks Wright, who homesteaded by herself in eastern Montana as a young woman. That book, and encouragement from her mentor, Karen Cushman, gave Kirby the confidence to embrace her passion for historical fiction; she has since written the Dogs of World War II series (Scholastic), which include "Duke", "Dash", "Liberty" and "Code Word Courage".
In 2006, Kirby began a collaboration with her good friend, Mary Nethery, that has produced two award-winning nonfiction picture books: "Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival" and "Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle". They think three’s a lucky number so have their eyes peeled for another project to tackle together.
A frequent speaker, Kirby Larson enjoys sharing her passion for research, reading and writing. She has presented at more than 200 schools, workshops, and seminars in over twenty states and as far away as Qatar, Lebanon and Guam.
Kirby currently lives and works in Kenmore, Washington, but spends as much time as she can at her beach house near the Canadian border.
(Audacity Jones and her best friend, Bimmy, are setting of...)
2017(Discover the world of Bitty Baby with this story and plus...)
2013(Enjoying his friendship with Quinn, who builds the best f...)
1996(With World War II raging and his father fighting overseas...)
2013(Perfect for storytime! This loveable Bitty Baby gift set ...)
2014(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
2013(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
2014(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
2013(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
2013(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
2013(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
2014(Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson brings us the first new...)
2011(When Griselda gives shelter for the night to a poor old w...)
2000(Discover the world of Bitty Baby - a special new friend t...)
2013(New from Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson, the moving st...)
2014(Audacity Jones is an eleven-year-old orphan who aches for...)
2016(After leaving Uncle Chester's homestead claim, orphan Hat...)
2013(This Newbery Honor winning, New York Times bestseller cel...)
2006(During Hurricane Katrina, evacuating New Orleans resident...)
2008(Quinn and her second-grade classmates are getting ready t...)
1994(A powerful tale about unsung heroism on the WWII battlefi...)
2018(Nubs, an Iraqi dog of war, never had a home or a person o...)
2009(Fish has a knack for inventing. His annoying neighbor, Ol...)
2016Kirby Larson has been a member of the Author’s Guild, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and PTA.
Kirby Larson married Neil Edwin Larson, a certified public accountant, on September 6, 1975. They have two children: Tyler Kenton and Quinn Lois. Their son, Tyler, lives near San Francisco with his sweet family, Nicole, Eli and Audrey; he works for MLS.com (Major League Soccer) and Nicole runs her own PR firm. Their daughter, Quinn, and her husband, Matt, live in Renton, Washington. Quinn is an interior designer and Matt is an accountant. They are Mom and Dad to Esme.
Kirby and Neil Edwin Larson also have a dog, Winston the Wonder Dog.