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Katie Otey is an author and poet who has been in love with books since she learned how to read at three years old. Mainly a humorist, her favorite stories can be described as comedies with heart that are mostly inspired by the antics of her five children.
In addition to writing, Katie has also taught Algebra to middle school and high school students. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the HBCU Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee as well as her Master’s in Teaching from McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois.
Katie’s favorite pastimes are singing, performing skits with her kids, practicing her Spanish, traveling, and making others laugh. She joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in 2012 and served as a Network Representative for the organization from 2014 - 2022. Katie resides in southern Illinois with her family. Her picture book EVERY OTHER CHRISTMAS debuted from Sky Pony Press in September 2022.
In addition to realizing her own publishing dreams, Katie is the founder of the independent publishing company, Phoenix Media & Books, LLC. Through her work with Phoenix Media & Books, Katie is determined to provide opportunities for a diverse array of creators.
Katie is represented by agent Bonnie Swanson of Fine Print Literary Management.
Reviewed by Gabriella Harrison for Readers' Favorite
Katie Otey beautifully and humorously captures the struggles of growing up with siblings, especially when they have differing personalities, as is often the case, in this endearing, illustrated children’s book, Izzy’s (Almost) Epic Day. Izzy is an eleven-year-old sixth grader with an overactive imagination that spirals when he receives just what he needs to set it off—a love note from a secret admirer promising to reveal herself. For the first time, he is excited to go to school and makes extra efforts to look presentable. However, the day quickly takes a left turn when his oldest sister runs into a stop sign, leaving him with a bump on his head. Throughout the day, Izzy’s luck keeps worsening, causing him to almost give up his much-anticipated encounter as anxiety grips him.
Izzy’s (Almost) Epic Day by Katie Otey grabs young readers' attention from the first page. It is narrated authentically in an eleven-year-old’s voice, allowing readers to connect with Izzy’s character immediately—sympathizing and laughing loudly at the sticky situations he gets into. The family dynamics are all too real as the siblings struggle to use a single bathroom, coming up with different schemes to one-up the other, such as Izzy using his brother’s shirt to wipe his mouth when he is rudely shoved out while brushing his teeth, to the annoyance of their mother. As the story progresses, Izzy learns that while things may not go as planned, it is important to keep trying, and bad times don’t always last. I recommend this book to young readers, especially those who think reading isn’t for them. It is that engaging.
