Katie Kibort-Gibbons Press Kit

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download press kit here
download press kit here
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Who Is Katie Kibort-Gibbons?

Katie Kibort-Gibbons is a licensed therapist, adoptee, adoptive parent, and the author of the heartfelt children’s book series The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo. Drawing from her personal journey and over 15 years of professional experience in child and family therapy, Katie creates stories that help children navigate the emotional landscape of adoption with honesty, empathy, and joy. Her books give voice to the feelings adopted children often experience, while supporting families, educators, and therapists in building connections through storytelling. Katie has been featured on Turn the Page with Paige on Great Day St. Louis and several adoption-focused podcasts.

Bio in a Tweet

Adoptee. Adoptive parent. Therapist. Author of The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo—children’s books about adoption, emotions & family.

The Story Behind the Author

Katie Kibort-Gibbons is a licensed therapist, children’s book author, adoptee, and adoptive parent whose life and work are deeply rooted in the world of adoption. With over 15 years of experience in mental health, Katie has worked as a Professional School Counselor and in private practice, specializing in child and adolescent trauma, adoption, and foster care. Her unique perspective—shaped by both lived experience and clinical training—allows her to support children and families with empathy, authenticity, and deep insight.

Katie is the author of The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo, a picture book series that gives voice to the emotions adopted children often experience, from feeling different to finding their place in a family. Through playful storytelling, gentle rhymes, and vibrant illustrations, the series invites meaningful conversations while celebrating the joy and complexity of adoptive families.

Katie’s work has been featured on Turn the Page with Paige on Great Day St. Louis and multiple podcasts focused on adoption, parenting, and mental health. In addition to writing, she speaks to educators, parents, and professionals about emotional wellness and identity in adoptive families. When she’s not writing or working, Katie enjoys gardening, golfing, and spending time with her husband and two sons—who, like her, are adopted.

Picture / Headshot

The Adventures of Bandit & Pablo: We are Brothers!

Children's book cover titled 'The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo: We Are Brothers!' showing a cartoon illustration of a puppy and an orange cat in a green field with white flowers, under a blue sky with white clouds.

The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo: We Made New Friends!

Bandit & Pablo Make a New Friend

In The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo: We Made New Friends, the adopted dog-and-cat duo head to the park and meet someone new—a friend who looks different from their family and is feeling unsure about where he fits in. Bandit and Pablo step in with kindness, helping him feel seen, accepted, and proud of who he is. This heartwarming picture book gently tackles the real-life issue many adopted kids face—looking different from their adoptive families—and reminds readers that family is built on love, not appearances. With playful rhymes and vibrant illustrations, it’s a perfect read for adoptive families, classrooms, and anyone who believes in the beauty of every kind of family.

The Book In One Line

A meaningful picture book that opens up conversations about adoption, identity, and family diversity.

Why I Wrote This Book

As both an adoptee and an adoptive parent, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful and complicated it can be for children to grow up in families where they don’t look like the people around them. One of the most common (and often unspoken) challenges adopted kids face is feeling different, especially when that difference is visible.

This was true for me growing up. I was adopted into a loving family, but my brother was my parents’ biological child, and he looked just like them. I remember feeling out of place at times, wondering why I didn’t resemble anyone around me. Those quiet moments stuck with me, and they’re a big part of why I wrote We Made New Friends.

Inspired by those early feelings, by the journeys of my own adopted sons, and by the many conversations I’ve had with children and families as a therapist, this story helps give words to emotions that can be hard to express. Bandit and Pablo’s new friend doesn’t look like his family and feels unsure of where he belongs, but with kindness and connection, he learns that family is built on love, not appearance.

This book is for all children—adopted or not—because learning to embrace differences and understand belonging is something every young heart deserves.

Book Cover

Book cover titled 'The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo We Made New Friends!' features a forest scene with a orange tabby cat, a small brown squirrel, and a beige dog with black ears and a red collar all surrounded by green trees and bushes.
Cover of a children's book titled "The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo: We Made New Friends!" featuring a forest scene with a cat and a dog. The cat is orange and standing, and the dog is light-colored with a red collar and is standing. Several other smaller animals are near the trees in the background.

As Seen On

Podcast Appearances

🎙️ Person Behind the Pages with Nicholas Fuller
Episode Title: Adoption is Tricky! Katie Kibort-Gibbons Makes it Fun!
Katie shares how her experience as an adoptee, adoptive parent, and therapist shaped her book series, helping families talk about adoption with honesty and hope.

🎧 The Compassionate Climb with Julia Nepini
Episode 39: Katie Gibbons Wrote a Book
Katie joins Julia to discuss her journey into children’s literature, how her personal experiences influenced her writing, and the impact of storytelling in adoptive families.

🎙️ Everyday Supermoms with Amy Grace
Episode 24: Building Bonds Beyond Blood: Katie Gibbons' Story of Adoption and Family
Katie opens up about her journey as an adoptive mom, her own adoption story, and how her books help children understand what it means to belong.

🎧 TheraSisters STL with Amy Ryan & Katheryn Barton
Episode Title: Katie Kibort-Gibbons Talks Adoption and Her Books
Katie speaks with the TheraSisters about the emotional layers of adoption, her work as a therapist, and how her books give adopted children a voice.

Television Appearances

Great Day St. Louis – KMOV-TV
Segment: Turn the Page with Paige with Paige Hulsey KMOV
Katie Kibort-Gibbons was featured on this popular morning show to discuss her children’s book series The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo, sharing how her personal and professional experience with adoption inspired her to create stories that help families talk about identity, emotions, and belonging.

Cover of a children's book titled "The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo. We Are Brothers!" with an illustration of a happy orange kitten and a dog with a big head, large ears, and a red collar, sitting outdoors among grass and white flowers, against a blue sky with a cloud.

Meet Bandit & Pablo: We Are Brothers

The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo: We Are Brothers is a heartwarming picture book that follows the story of a dog and cat who become brothers through adoption. With playful rhymes and charming illustrations, this story gently explores the emotions adopted children may feel—like uncertainty, curiosity, and the need to belong—while celebrating the joy of becoming family. Inspired by the author’s own experiences as an adoptee, adoptive parent, and licensed therapist, this book offers a relatable and thoughtful approach to starting conversations about adoption, identity, and love with children aged 3–10.

The Book in One Line

A heartwarming story of adoption, emotions, and brotherhood. Bandit the dog and Pablo the cat become brothers and learn what it means to be a family—differences and all.

Why I Wrote This Book

As an adoptee, an adoptive parent, and a licensed therapist, I’ve lived and worked through the many layers of the adoption experience. I wrote The Adventures of Bandit and Pablo: We Are Brothers because I wanted children—especially those who are adopted—to have a story that reflects both the joy and the complexity of becoming part of a family.

My greatest inspiration came from watching my two adopted sons—who are not biologically related—learn what it means to become brothers. Their journey from strangers to siblings, with all the ups, downs, and beautiful in-betweens, showed me how powerful, emotional, and real the process of building a family truly is.

So many adoption books focus on the perspective of adults or the logistics of how adoption happens. I wanted to tell a story from the child’s point of view—one that speaks to the questions, emotions, and hopes that kids often hold silently inside. Bandit and Pablo give those feelings a voice in a way that’s accessible, fun, and deeply validating.

This book isn’t just for adopted children—it’s for all kids, to help them understand family, identity, and the power of love that connects us.

Book Cover