Kate Douglas Wiggin was an American writer and educator. She was born on September 28,1856 as Kate Douglas Smith in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kate went to private school in Andover, Massachusetts. She was always interested in education. In San Francisco in 1878, she started the first free kindergarten on the West Coast. Two years later, with her sister Nora, she started the California Kindergarten Training School for teachers. Together with her sister, Mrs. Wiggin prepared many textbooks. She also wrote several other books for children. They include The BirdsÕ Christmas Carol, TimothyÕs Quest and Mother CareyÕs Chickens. Kate died in Harrow, England on August 25, 1923.