Meet the author

Kyo Maclear.

Writer · Canada · b. 1970

Kyo Maclear: a Canadian picture-book author who turns small things — a spork, a fog, a story-boat — into gentle, artful books about identity, kindness and belonging, ideal for thoughtful read-alouds and classroom conversations.

Kyo Maclear is a Canadian picture-book author, born in London in 1970 to a British journalist father and a Japanese artist mother, and raised in Toronto. She writes lyrical, quietly thoughtful picture books that pair everyday objects and small journeys with big ideas: Spork turns a piece of cutlery into a tender fable about mixed identity and belonging; Story Boat introduces very young readers to the refugee experience; The Fog and The Wish Tree fold environmental care and kindness into gentle, imaginative stories. Always working with distinctive illustrators, Maclear leans on atmosphere and feeling rather than plot, making her books natural discussion-starters at home and in the classroom. Widely translated and much-honoured, including a 2025 Caldecott Honor and a Vicky Metcalf career award, she is a reliable choice for families wanting warm, artful picture books with real substance.