Kirsten Hall

Kirsten Hall is a native New Yorker. After college, where she majored in English and minored in Child Development, Hall taught preschool, Kindergarten, and 2nd grade while studying Early Childhood Education in NYU's Masters program. Hall's first easy reader book was written (and published) when she was in the 7th grade. Since then she has written approximately 150 early reader and chapter books for children, on a broad range of topics, for publishers including Scholastic, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Chronicle, and Abrams. Hall's recent trade picture books include THE JACKET, illustrated by Dasha Tolstikova, published in October 2014 by Enchanted Lion Books. THE JACKET earned an honorable mention from the Huffington Post for 'Most Charming Picture Book,' it was selected as an 'Editor's Choice' at The New York Times, and it was subsequently one of The New York Times's picks for 25 'Notable Children's Books of 2014.' Hall's next title, The GOLD LEAF illustrated by Matt Forsythe, was also published by Enchanted Lion Books. Brain Pickings called it "an enchanting modern fable about covetous possessiveness redeemed by the unselfish appreciation of life’s unownable wonder." The Wall Street Journal wrote, "Though competition tears the leaf to fragments, this is not a fable of greed but of gratitude, with rich, mystical illustrations that will stir the young reader’s heart." THE GOLD LEAF won the 2018 Bull-Bransom Award and was a Globe and Mail's 'Best Book of the Year' in 2017. In 2018, Hall's next book published. THE HONEYBEE, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault, was praised as "glorious" by The Wall Street Journal; "boisterously written, gorgeously illustrated, and sneakily educational" by Booklist; and earned many starred reviews. THE HONEYBEE has won four awards: the Florida Reading Association Children's Book Award; the Mitten Award Top Ten Title; a Star of the North Picture Book Award Nomination; and a Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor. Hall's most recent picture book, SNOW BIRDS, was illustrated by Jenni Desmond and published by Abrams. The Audubon Society hailed SNOW BIRDS as "A soulful, vivid look at the hidden world of winter birds" and Booklist described it as "effervescent." SNOW BIRDS, published in November 2020, has already won two awards: it was named a Notable Title for 'Excellence in Children's Poetry' by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and awarded a "Blue Ribbon" by the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB). In addition to writing, Hall operates her own boutique illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions, founded in 2014. Hall currently resides in New York City with her husband and two sons.