Turn the Page: Kat Chen

Published: Sep. 15, 2026 at 11:22 AM CDT
Parents, grandparents, and caregivers often hear toddlers demand, "Come play with me!" But between the dishes and laundry and all the things, sometimes we brush off that important invitation. A children's book series, written by Kat Chen of central Illinois, reminds us about the incredible tool that play - and reading together - can be. In Chen's book, "Play With Me," children can interact with the text, and practice social skills and etiquette as they navigate the flow of a playdate. It also helps guide parents in interactive storytelling. It is just one of many successful books written by Kat Chen, who joined Turn the Page with Paige host Paige Hulsey to talk about being part of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, how observing her own family inspired the book, and the other genres she writes under different pen names.