Kathy Brodsky

Brodsky’s 2022 Stover Learns to Swim book is her third book about Stover the pig. The book follows Stover as he takes swimming lessons for the first time. When he was younger, Stover was thrown into the water, and he has been afraid to swim ever since. Now he’s older, and all of his friends know how to swim, so Stover feels ready to learn. The book follows Stover’s journey from his initial fear, to being comfortable and feeling safe in the water, to actually swimming. By the end of the book, Stover feels he's ready to swim with friends. Included discussion questions relate to kids feelings about swimming, and what it’s like to experience activities they may have been hesitant to try before. A separate coloring/activity book was published concurrently.

Brodsky’s 2021 How Talula Turned Her Day Around, tells the story of Talula turtle who doesn’t like wearing her mask. It’s during the height of the Covid pandemic, and Talula is sad because she can’t go to school, and she’s missing her friends. Her mom helps Talula come up with a plan to help cope with feelings of isolation, so Talula can look forward to regaining time with friends – even though she has to stay masked. Included discussion questions relate to how kids have about themselves during the pandemic. A separate coloring/activity book was published concurrently.

In 2020, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, a version was published with a Black baby as the protagonist.

Brodsky’s 2019 Stover Goes to Camp tells the story of her character Stover the pig going to overnight summer camp for the very first time. Stover goes to Camp Welcome, a very diverse camp where all are welcome, and where all of the campers and counselors are different types of animals. Stover who has never spent any time away from home, gets a chance to experience many new things, including a bout with homesickness. Discussion questions include what it’s like for kids to leave home for the first time.

In 2018, for a 10th anniversary edition, My Bent Tree was published in a bilingual Spanish/English version - Mi Árbol Doblado / My Bent Tree.

While writing My Bent Tree, Brodsky commissioned artist Cameron Bennett to provide full-color illustrations for the story. The two have since collaborated on all of her picture books. Bennett's illustrations are created with acrylic paint on canvas. As a 10th anniversary edition, My Bent Tree was published as a bilingual Spanish-language version - Mi Árbol Doblado / My Bent Tree in 2018.

Brodsky’s 2018 board book Two Arms-Two Legs-Two Feet follows a newborn on a quest to find their family and to discover “Who am I?” “Where do I fit in?” “Where do I belong?”

“Because I am a therapist, my books all have very positive messages,” Brodsky told the New Hampshire Union Leader in a 2017 interview. Her books focus on topics such as being true to who you are, accepting others who are different, the advantages of unusual friendships and adjusting to change, she told the newspaper.

“Kids go through so many changes in their young lives, and my books help teach them how to grow stronger through those difficult times,” Brodsky told journalist Kimberly Houghton in a 2017 interview.

The book and its discussion questions have been praised for helping children understand vital issues of responsibility and compassion. Richard Davidson, psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, writes that, "through rhyme, illustration and probing questions, Kathy Brodsky offers a delightful tale of friendship and kindness that will help nurture positive social skills in our children." Bill McManus, a reviewer for The Huffington Post, wrote, "A CatFish Tale is a funny book about unusual friendships. The author is quite talented in her use of rhyme in telling her stories." The book was named the Storytime Pup's "Pick of the Litter" in Story Monsters magazine March 2017 issue.

In early 2017, A CatFish Tale was translated into a Spanish-language edition - El Cuento de Don Gato Pez. El Cuento de Don Gato Pez is the first of Brodsky's books to be translated into Spanish.

In 2017, Story Time Pup recorded A CatFish Tale on its YouTube channel.

Brodsky's 2016 High Wire Act tells the story of the personification of a traffic light that is blown down by a strong gust of wind. Watching traffic stand still without it, the traffic light comes to realize its own importance. High Wire Act was named the 2016 Book of the Year by Creative Child Magazine in its life skills category. It was additionally showcased by the Children's Book Council.

Brodsky has appeared on a number of radio shows and podcasts to read her books, as well as to discuss the process of writing and what inspires her. She was interviewed on Boston WEMF's "City Wide Blackout" radio program in October 2015, and Los Angeles KKGO FM's "Marie Hulett's Pet Place" radio program in August 2010.

Brodsky has traveled to schools around New England as a storyteller and writer-in-residence. In 2015, she was sponsored by the Children's Literacy Foundation's Year of the Book grant, which provided free books to schoolchildren at her readings. She kicked off the program at Freedom Elementary School's "Read Across America" event. As part of that same program, Brodsky spoke to the Valley View Community School in Farmington, New Hampshire. She was the writer-in-residence at Pierce Elementary School in Bennington, New Hampshire, and the Harold Martin School in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. She has visited events for home-schooled students in Keene, New Hampshire. The Derry Village School Cultural Arts Committee, in Derry, New Hampshire, hosted Brodsky at the Festival of Children's Authors and Illustrators in 2009.

Brodsky's books have won multiple awards, including two national honors from the Green Book Festival, Book of the Year from Creative Child Magazine, and a top 10 listing from the International Literacy Association and Children's Book Council's Children's Choice Reading List. Each year 12,500 school children from throughout the United States read newly published children's and young adult books and vote for their favorites. Brodsky was selected for this list in 2014.

Brodsky's 2013 book, A CatFish Tale, tells of a cat asked to care for some delicious-looking fish. The story teaches the responsibility of taking care of a pet, as well as the importance of making good choices. In her review, Diane Walters writes, "although clever and fun, also shows how hard it is to have self-control sometimes—especially from a cat's point of view when minding the fish." A CatFish Tale has won several awards, including Creative Child Magazine's Picture Book of the Year. It has also been highlighted by the Children's Book Council's "Silver & Gold: Friends New & Old" booklist, as well as selected by children to be one of the top 10 books on the International Literacy Association and Children's Book Council's "Children's Choices Reading List Award," which allows over 12,000 children to choose their favorite books of the year.

Brodsky has been asked to speak at conferences, author's workshops, and public events. She was the keynote speaker at the Child Health Services' Morning Matters annual breakfast. In May 2012, she was the keynote speaker at New Hampshire Public Television (NHPTV)'s PBS Go! Writer's Contest, which promotes children's writing.

"And rhythm is important," Brodsky told book reviewer Ella Johnson, in a 2011 interview. "Each of my books started as a poem. What I like about poetry is that it's very succinct. Each character in my books comes from either something someone has said to me or something I’ve seen."

Brodsky told book reviewer Ella Johnson, in a 2011 interview:

In the summer of 2011 while promoting Stover, Brodsky was interviewed on the national radio programs Musical Soul Food and Daybreak USA. She discussed the process of writing on Broadminded, a live Sirius XM Satellite Radio program on channel 107, and on the "Creative Breakthrough" podcast. Brodsky has recorded both A CatFish Tale and High Wire Act on Sarasota Library's Storycast podcast, and recorded The Winner Is... for Writer's Voices on KRUU-LP radio, Fairfield, Iowa, in April 2011.

Since 2011, Brodsky has presented four times at the annual Children's Authors Tea, an event promoting "quality family time while also promoting early literacy." The event benefits the Family Resource Center of Central New Hampshire. Brodsky was a presenter for Children's Literacy Foundation's conference. She also regularly speaks at libraries across New England to discuss her books as well as her inspiration for writing.

The popularity of Just Sniffing Around brought requests for a companion poem for cat lovers. In response, Brodsky wrote Purrsnikkity, and held a contest to find a cat to be the main character. For every three pictures they submitted of their cat, children were encouraged to donate $5 to a local rescue shelter. The winning cat was selected by illustrator Cameron Bennett to be the model for the illustrations in the book. The Midwest Book Review writes, "Told from the cat's point of view (is there any other?), Pursnikitty presents many recurring themes in tales of pet care and responsible pet ownership." Reviewer Steve McEvoy writes, "this book captures the essence and spirit of a cat and the cat's relationship to the family and the environment it lives in." Brodsky said in a 2010 interview about the book, "the book's messages deal with family interaction and tolerance," noting "how important it is to look beyond first impressions."

Brodsky attributes her 50+ years as a clinical social worker as a partial inspiration for her writing. In an interview with author Rebecca Rule, Brodsky said the stories her clients have told her "often reveal great courage, inner strength and joy." Brodsky said she has witnessed the human struggle to "overcome personal difficulties that started in childhood." "My books for children have messages in them that come from my social work experience...differences, friendship, loyalty, and social action," Brodsky told journalist Michael Cousineau in a 2008 interview in the New Hampshire Sunday News. "I feel very strongly that all of us can be productive and contribute, even if we may be different in some way."

Her fourth book, Just Sniffing Around, was dedicated to her French mastiff Cali, who died in 2008. The book opens with a picture of Cali, as well as a poem entitled "We are so Lucky to Have Each Other." The illustrations in the book are modeled from Cali. Just Sniffing Around tells the story of a curious dog and the challenges of raising him. The discussion questions in the book focus on the responsibility of pet ownership, as well as the roles dogs play within the lives of their human companions. Pamme Boutselis of Parenting NH magazine writes that the book emphasizes "the special qualities that Brodsky feels these incredible four-legged beings bring to our lives."

In 2008, Brodsky was the keynote speaker at Girls, Inc., where she discussed the writing process and what inspired her to become a writer.

Brodsky began her writing career with a poetry book, Moments in our Lives: A Woman's Eye View, published in 2004. The book consists of a series of poems capturing her experiences as a woman and a therapist. According to The Laconia Daily Sun, these poems "reveal joys, strength and courage in dealing with stressful personal situations." Florence Henderson wrote of the book, "Brodsky's poems are a delight. They are full of humor, compassion, and insight into women's joy, frustration, and sadness." Brodsky also recorded Moment of our Lives for audio listening.

Following her eight-year tenure at Child and Family Services, Brodsky was named the citywide school and family education liaison, helping families of children with special needs in Manchester – the largest and most diverse public school district in the state, with 14,000 students. In 1987, she opened her private counseling and therapy practice, which she continues to this day.

After earning her MSW in 1970, Brodsky worked for five years as a therapist for the Greater Manchester, NH, Mental Health Center, an outpatient and acute residential treatment facility, where she was responsible for intake and therapy for adolescents and adults. Starting in 1976, Brodsky was a therapist at Child and Family Services of New Hampshire, a non-profit agency, where she counseled individuals; she later began helping couples, often prior to divorce, deal with their next phase of life.

Kathy Brodsky (born January 8, 1945) is an American author and poet. She has written seventeen books, sixteen of which are children's books, and one that is a collection of 65 poems reflecting her observations and insights about life. She was the writer-in-residence at the Pierce School in Bennington, New Hampshire, and at the Harold Martin School in Hopkinton, New Hampshire.