The Founders Story of Acorn Cottage Press

At Acorn Cottage Press, everything starts with a simple but powerful belief: every child deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read and the toys they play with. Founded by Katherine Lockwood, a passionate disability rights advocate, mental health therapist, and educator, the press emerged from her deep commitment to fostering disability representation in children’s literature.

Katherine’s personal journey has profoundly shaped her mission. Growing up with cystic fibrosis and diabetes, she knows firsthand how important it is to see disabled people succeed in all areas of life. Frustrated by the absence of meaningful representation, Katherine founded Acorn Cottage Press to create books and toys that celebrate disabled children as they are—vibrant, capable, and full of potential.
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Today, Acorn Cottage Press offers a range of picture books and toys designed to inspire all children, helping them see the beauty in their differences. Living on Cape Cod with her husband, Arden, and daughters, Rose and Magnolia, Katherine continues her work while enjoying life by the sea. When she’s not working on new projects, you’ll find her swimming, boating, renovating, or hosting potluck dinners with friends.
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Through Acorn Cottage Press, Katherine is helping to shape a future where representation in children's media is the norm—not the exception. She’s planting the seeds of change, one story at a time.