Kate Petty

  • 79

    Catalog books

  • 33

    Works

  • 1990 to 2014

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

Kate Petty writes concise, fact-packed nonfiction for young readers that blends simple text with clear visuals. Her books range from nature titles like Ducklings and Ponies and Foals to topic-driven explorations such as Whales Can Sing and The Sun Is a Star, each aimed at sparking curiosity through approachable explanations.

Petty also tackles machinery and history with a hands-on tone in titles like Encyclopedia/Awesome Machines and Truck Can Be As Big As A House, while collections such as Horse Heroes and Land Hunters present true stories and field-focused perspectives that invite children to observe animals, landscapes, and how things work.

Best Place To Start

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Children's non-fiction picture books • Simple explanations of animals and nature • Energetic illustrations and clear layouts

Genres and themes: Early learning • Nature & animals • Non-fiction for young readers

Who this author is best for: Good for toddlers and early readers who enjoy short, illustrated facts about animals, machines, and the natural world.

Browse the short picture books first — the 24–32 page titles give a quick feel for her style before trying longer encyclopedic entries.

Top Books To Start With

  1. The Sun Is a Star (I Didn't Know That)

    Franklin Watts Ltd • 2003 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2003 • 32 pages.

  2. Charlotte: Girls Like You

    Orion Pub Co • 1999 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1999 • 160 pages.

  3. Hair

    Frances Lincoln Children's • 2006 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2006 • 32 pages.

  4. Homes (World Show-and-Tell)

    Two-Can Publishers|Two-Can in association with Oxfam • 2006 • quick commitment

    You teach young children about global cultures and need Kate Petty's simple, concrete examples of huts, flats | You coll…

  5. Encyclopedia/Awesome Machines (Awesome Encyclopedias)

    Millbrook Pr • 1999 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1999 • 112 pages.

  6. Horse Heroes : True Stories of Amazing Horses

    Dk Pub • 1999 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1999 • 48 pages.

  7. Tidal Waves Wash Away Cities (I Didn't Know That)

    Millbrook Pr • 1999 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1999 • 32 pages.

  8. Tidal Waves Wash Away Cities (World Around Us)

    Millbrook Pr • 1999 • quick commitment

    You want a child-friendly explanation of tsunamis and coastal flooding | You collect Kate Petty's World Around Us nonfic…

  9. Truck Can Be As Big As A House

    Millbrook Pr • 1999 • quick commitment

    You enjoy Kate Petty’s playful educational picture-book voice | You want a 32-page book for preschool counting, size, an…

  10. Trucks Can Be As Big As/House (I Didn't Know That)

    Millbrook Pr • 1999 • quick commitment

    You enjoy Kate Petty’s child-centered nonfiction comparisons | You want a 32-page picture book about trucks, size, and s…

How The Picks Compare

  • The Sun Is a Star (I Didn't Know That) is the easier short commitment, while Charlotte: Girls Like You asks for more reading time up front.
  • Charlotte: Girls Like You gives you an earlier look at this author’s shelf, while The Sun Is a Star (I Didn't Know That) leans later in the catalog.
  • Hair is also useful if you want a different publishing lane from The Sun Is a Star (I Didn't Know That).

More Books By Kate Petty

Browse Next