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{{short description|American writer}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = Kay Chorao
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| pseudonym =
|birth_name = Ann McKay Sproat
| birth_date = January 7, 1936
| birth_place = [[Elkhart, Indiana]], USA
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Artist, illustrator and writer
| nationality = American
| period = 1972–present
| genre = Children's books
| subject =
| movement =

| signature =
| website =
}}

'''Kay Chorao''', born as '''Ann McKay Sproat''' on January 7, 1936,<ref>H.W. Wilson Company, Joseph, Bea. ''Biography Index'', p. 148.</ref><ref>La Beau, Dennis. ''Children's authors and illustrators'', p. 31.</ref><ref name="childrenlit">[http://childrensliteraturenetwork.org/birthbios/brthpage/01jan/1-7chorao.html "Birthday Bio: Kay Chorao"]. Children Literature Network. Retrieved August 9, 2008. </ref> (some sources say 1937<ref>[http://www.educationoasis.com/curriculum/calendar/january.htm Teacher's Calendar of Events] from ''Education Oasis''. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref><ref>Mossman, Jennifer. ''New Pseudonyms and Nicknames: Second Supplement to Pseudonyms and Nicknames'', p. 73.</ref>) in [[Elkhart, Indiana]], is an American artist, illustrator and writer of children's books.

==Biography==
Chorao was born in [[Elkhart, Indiana]], into a middle-class, suburban family.<ref name="book">[https://books.google.com/books?id=Im_I_7j4VDcC&dq=Albert's+Toothache+kay+chorao+Children's+Book+Showcase&pg=PA165 Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature]. Archived at Google Books.</ref> She loved and was encouraged to draw at a young age.<ref name="book"/> She attended [[Laurel School]] in [[Shaker Heights, OH]].<ref>[http://www.laurelschool.org/alumnae/2007distAlumna.cfm]. Laurel School.</ref> Chorao went to [[Wheaton College (Massachusetts)|Wheaton College]], where in 1958 she earned a Bachelor of Arts in [[art history]].<ref name="childrenlit"/> After that, Chorao pursued her graduate study at [[Chelsea School of Art]] from 1958 to 1959.{{cn|date=August 2022}}

Chorao got married and had three sons before moving to New York with her family.<ref name="childrenlit"/> From 1966 to 1968, she studied book illustration at [[School of Visual Arts]] in New York.{{cn|date=August 2022}}

==Career==
Besides writing self-illustrated children's books, Chorao has been the illustrator for many books by [[Jane Yolen]], [[Judith Viorst]], [[Jan Wahl]], and [[Marjorie Sharmat]].{{cn|date=August 2022}} Chorao published her first book, ''The Repair of Uncle Toe'', in 1972.<ref name="childrenlit"/> Since then, she has written and illustrated more than fifty books.<ref>[http://us.macmillan.com/author/kaychorao Author Kay Chorao]. Macmillan Books. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref> Her illustrations have been exhibited several times by [[American Institute of Graphic Arts]] and [[Society of Illustrators]].{{cn|date=August 2022}} Chorao has received the [[Christopher Award]] twice; the first time in 1979 as the illustrator of ''Chester Chipmunk's Thanksgiving'', by Barbara Williams; and the second time in 1989 as the illustrator of ''The Good-Bye Book'', by Judith Viorst.<ref>[https://www.ucalgary.ca/~dKBrown/christopher.html The Christopher Awards: Books for Young People] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115092144/http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/christopher.html |date=November 15, 2009 }}. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref>

In 1975, Chorao illustrated ''Albert's Toothache'', by Barbara Williams. The book was critically successful, being given the [[American Library Association]]'s notable book citation and Children's Book Showcase title.<ref name="book"/> In 1979, her 1974 book ''Ida Makes a Movie'' was adapted into a [[Ida Makes a Movie|short film by the same name]], which would become the genesis for the highly successful ''[[Degrassi (franchise)|Degrassi]]'' teen drama franchise. In 1988, Chorao published ''Cathedral Mouse'', which was well received by critics and featured among the ten best children's picture books of the year, by ''[[New York Times]]''.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE4DB1038F936A35751C1A96E948260&scp=2&sq=kay%20chorao&st=cse Books of The Times; For Junior Bibliophiles, 10 Favorites of the Year]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref>

In 1990, Chorao's book ''Baby's Lap Book'' was selected by [[American Library Association]] among the list of "Books to Grow On" for children from 6 to 12 months.<ref>[http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alscresources/booklists/booksgrow.cfm "Books to Grow On"]. American Library Association. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref> The following year, she published ''Here Comes Kate'', which was named among the Pick of the decade 1995–2005 "Best books for children" list compiled by [[New Jersey State Library]], Clifton Public Library and Woodbridge Public Library.<ref>[http://www.njyac.org/booklists/pdf/all.pdf. Pick of the decade:1995–2005]. ''njyac.org''. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref> In 1994, Chorao self-illustrated book ''Annie and Cousin Precious'' was picked by [[International Reading Association]] as one of the Children's Choices for 1995.<ref name="book"/><ref>[https://www.ucalgary.ca/~dKBrown/iracc95.html Children's Choices for 1995]. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref>

==Selected works==

===As writer and illustrator===
*''The Repair of Uncle Toe'' (1972)
*''A Magic Eye for Ida'' (1973)
*''Ralph and the Queen's Bathtub'' (1974)
*''Ida Makes a Movie'' (1974)
*''Maudie's Umbrella'' (1975)
*''Here Comes Kate'' (1982, 2000)
*''Cathedral Mouse'' (1988)
*''Ida and Betty and the Secret Eggs'' (1991)
*''Annie and Cousin Precious'' (1994)
*''Jumpety-Bumpety Hop: A Parade of Animal Poems'' (1997)
*''Little Farm by the Sea'' (1998)

===="Baby" series====
*''The Baby's Lap Book: Nursery Rhymes'' (1977, re-released with color illustrations in 1990)
*''The Baby's Bedtime Book: Poems and Rhymes'' (1984)
*''The Baby's Good Morning Book: Poems and Rhymes'' (1986)
*''The Baby's Christmas Treasury: Poems, Stories, and Songs'' (1991)

====''Oink and Pearl'' series====
#''Oink and Pearl'' (1981)
#''Ups and Downs with Oink and Pearl'' (1986)

===As Illustrator only===
*''The Witch's Egg'' by [[Madeleine Edmondson]] (1974)
*''Clyde Monster'' by [[Robert L. Crowe]] (1976)
*''Whose House?'' by [[Barbara Seuling]] (2004)
*''Grandma's Hurrying Child'' by [[Jane Yolen]] (2005)

====Books by Majorie Weinman Sharmat====
Books by [[Marjorie W. Sharmat]] that are illustrated by Kay Chorao:
*''I'm Terrific'' (1977)
*''Thornton the Worrier'' (1978)
*''Grumley the Grouch'' (1980)
*''Sometimes Mama and Papa Fight'' (1980)

====Book by Judith Viorst====
Books by [[Judith Viorst]] that are illustrated by Kay Chorao:
*''My Mama Says there Aren't any Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Creatures, Demons, Monsters, Fiends, Goblins, or Things'' (1973)
*''The Good-bye Book'' (1988)

====Books by Jan Wahl====
Books by [[Jan Wahl]] that are illustrated by Kay Chorao:
*''Frankenstein's Dog'' (1977)
*''Dracula's Cat'' (1978)

====Books by Barbara Williams====
Books by [[Barbara Williams (writer)|Barbara Williams]] that are illustrated by Kay Chorao:
*''Albert's Toothache'' (1974)
*''Kevin's Grandma'' (1975)
*''Someday, Said Mitchell'' (1976) {{ISBN|0-525-39580-6}} HB
*''Chester Chipmunk's Thanksgiving'' (1978)
*''A Valentine for Cousin Archie'' (1981)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{LCAuth|n79075620|Kay Chorao|105|}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chorao, Kay}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American children's writers]]
[[Category:American children's book illustrators]]
[[Category:American women illustrators]]
[[Category:American women children's book illustrators]]
[[Category:American women children's writers]]
[[Category:People from Elkhart, Indiana]]
[[Category:Writers from Indiana]]
[[Category:Wheaton College (Massachusetts) alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]

Kay Chorao - Revision history

imported>Kjell Knudde: Added more categories.