Kay Chorao was born Ann McKay Sproat on January 7th in Elkhart, Indiana. Her earliest illustration was done in blue crayon on the under side of her family's breakfast table.
She received a BA in art history from Wheaton College and did graduate study at the Chelsea School of Art in London. After she married and had three sons, she and her family moved to New York. There, she studied book illustration at the School of Visual Arts.
Her first book was published in 1972. Her books have received many types of recognition. Some of the most notable are The Baby's Lap Book, Cathedral Mouse, and Chester Chipmunk's Thanksgiving.
