KATHRYN OTOSHI, founder of KO Kids Books, is a children's book author and illustrator living in the San Francisco Bay Area. By day she works at Robert Zemeckis's award winning film company, ImageMovers Digital (Christmas Carol, Monster House). Prior to this, Otoshi worked at George Lucas's Industrial Light & Magic (Star Wars) as the Graphic Design and Multimedia Art Director, where she led a team of designers to create hundreds of promotional pieces.
Otoshi's first book as author and illustrator was "What Emily Saw," a Borders Original New Voice Nominee and BAIPA's Best Children's Book. This was followed by "Simon & the Sock Monster," short listed as a USA Book News Honoree, and "The Saddest Little Robot" (2004), a BookSense Pick. She teamed up with author Liz Hockinson and created the illustrations for "Marcello the Movie Mouse" (2005). Marcello garnered the Writer's Digest Award for Best Children's Book, the DIY Best Children's Book, the Hollywood Book Festival Award, and the Eric Hoffer Notable.
Her book, "One," winner of ten awards, including the E.B. White Read Aloud Honor Book and the Teacher's Choice Award, is an anti-bullying book introducing colors, numbers, and counting while playing on larger themes of tolerance, acceptance, and the power of one voice. Her upcoming book, "Zero," is about finding value in ourselves and in others.
Otoshi has been a scholarship recipient of the Publishers Marketing Association and a guest speaker/panelist at many book venues, including the San Francisco Writers Conference, the Harbourfront Book Festival, and the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. (2010)
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