Kwame alexander recommends 3 poetry books for the holidays nprs rachel martin talks to poet in residence kwame alexander,who shares his poetry book recommendations for the holiday season. Kwame alexander on childrens books and the color of. Scbwi kwame alexander joins society of childrens book. Versify books curated by kwame alexander hmh books. His bookinaday writing and publishing program for upper elementary, middle, and high school students has created more than 2500 student authors in 50 schools across the u. A video interview with kwame alexander reading rockets. Childrens book the undefeated wins caldecott and two. Kwame alexander grew up surrounded by piles of books, with an english. Kwame alexander is an awardwinning childrens book author and poet. Kwame alexander slam dunks newbery medal with basketball tale the crossover.
Kwame alexander is a poet, educator, and new york times bestselling author of 21 books, including the crossover, which received the 2015 john newbery medal for the most distinguished contribution to american literature for children, the coretta scott king author award honor, the ncte charlotte huck honor, the lee bennett hopkins poetry award, and the. He lives with his wife and two daughters in the washington, d. Kwame alexander, newbery medal winner, talks about rebound. Kwame alexander grew up surrounded by piles of books, with an english teacher mom and a publisher dad. Kwame alexander is an american writer of poetry and childrens fiction. Kwame alexander has always been surrounded by books and reading. Kwame alexander is a poet, educator, and new york times bestselling author of 21 books, including the crossover, which received the 2015 john newbery medal for the most distinguished contribution to american literature for children, the coretta scott king author award honor, the ncte charlotte huck honor, the lee bennett hopkins poetry award, and the passaic poetry prize. See all books authored by kwame alexander, including the crossover, and booked, and more on. His most recent book swing, coauthored with mary rand hess. Lets move on to the four childrens books that were the runners up, and won 2020 newbery honors. He conducts creative writing workshops in middle and high schools, often reaching more than five hundred students monthly. His verse novel the crossover won the 2015 newbery medal recognizing the years most distinguished contribution to american literature for children. Poem by kwame alexander originally appeared on the undefeated website. Local author kwame alexander writes childrens literature.
Performed first on the espn show of the same name, this magnificent anthem to the courage and genius of black americans has been turned into a picture. Jerry craft, kadir nelson win honors for childrens books. Times studio at the festival of books for a video chat about his poetry and childrens books. Kwame alexander is coming to cbis conference, and were so. Kwame alexander took his great loves, basketball and poetry, and combined them for the newbery medalwinning childrens book the crossover, about basketball playing twins, written in.
Biography kwame alexander is a poet, educator, and the new york times bestselling author of 32 books, including the undefeated, illustrated by kadir nelson, how to read a book, illustrated by melissa sweet, swing, rebound, which was shortlisted for prestigious carnegie medal, and, his newbery medalwinning middle grade novel, the crossover. He also won a 2020 newbery honor for his illustrated poem the undefeated. Kwame alexander books list of books by author kwame. Kwame alexander is a poet, educator, and new york times bestselling author of 21 books, including booked and the crossover, which received the 2015 john newbery medal for the most distinguished contribution to american literature for children, the coretta scott king author award honor, the ncte charlotte huck honor, the lee bennett hopkins poetry award, and the. Alexander is also the creator of the inschool bookinaday writing and publishing workshop. His picture book acoustic rooster and his barnyard band, was selected for the 2014 michigan reads. Kwame alexander is a poet, educator, and the new york times bestselling author of 28 books, including rebound, the followup to his, newbery medalwinning middle grade novel, the. I tell people all the time just the idea of being able to share your ideas and your thoughts and your feelings about the world and about your place in it with young people is the best job in the world, and to get paid to do it, its just im over the moon. Kwame alexander is a poet, educator, new york times bestselling author of 21 books, and recipient of the 2015 newbery medal for his novel, t. His other picture books include undefeated, animal ark, and out of wonder. Kwame alexander born august 21, 1968 is an american writer of poetry and childrens fiction. A powerful story that will leave the reader breathless, right to the very end. Kwame alexander is a poet, educator, and new york times bestselling author of 21 books, including the crossover, which received the 2015 john newbery medal for the most distinguished contribution to american literature for children, the coretta scott king author award honor, the ncte charlotte huck honor, the lee bennett hopkins poetry award.
The book, written by kwame alexander and illustrated by kadir nelson, was also named a newbery honor book for outstanding contributions to childrens literature. Helping him along are his best friend and sometimes teammate coby, and the mac, a rapping librarian who gives nick inspiring books to read. Follett and kwame alexander launch literacy campaign. Kwame alexander is a poet, educator, and new york times bestselling author of 21 books, including the crossover, which received the 2015 john newbery medal for the most distinguished contribution to american literature for children. It was also selected as an honor book for the coretta scott king award. Congratulations to kwame alexander for being awarded the 2015 newbery medal on his debut mg novel, the crossover, which was also named a coretta scott king author honor book. Books childrens book the undefeated wins caldecott and two other awards. Kwame alexander took his great loves, basketball and poetry, and combined them for the newbery medalwinning childrens book the. Engage and inspire your children through poetry and literature with powerful insight. With illustrations by kadir nelson, this book is a must for every home. Booked new york times bestseller national book award longlist ilacbc childrens choice list ala notable childrens book book links lasting connections kirkus best book san francisco chronicle best book washington post best book bookpage best book a novel about a soccerobsessed tween boy written entirely in verse. Awardwinning author joins organizations mission to create and make available quality childrens books around the world. Colors pop and the imagination soars in how to read a book, a set of instructions and a delicious ode to the pleasures of reading from bestselling author and newbery medalist kwame alexander likening a book to a clementine, he suggests that young readers peel its gentle skin and let the story unfurl. Local author kwame alexander writes childrens literature that.
Kwame alexander is a poet, childrens book author, playwright, producer, and the author of over a dozen books, including booked 2016, the crossover 2014, he said, she said 2014, acoustic rooster and his barnyard band 2011, and crush. Kwame alexander on childrens books and the color of characters. Kwame alexander, award winning childrens book author, poet. This combination of photos shows new kid by jerry craft, a graphic novel about a 7th graders struggle to adjust to a private school with little diversity, left, and the undefeated, by kadir nelson, a poetic tribute to african american history, featuring the words of. As he writes in his inspirational the playbook, my house was pretty much a library. Alexander fully captures joshs athletic finesse and comingofage angst in a mix of free verse and hiphop poetry that will have broad appeal. Kwame alexander is a bestselling author, poet, and advocate for. Kwame alexander recommends 3 poetry books for the holidays. The characters of kwame alexanders versenovel entered my heart, as it showed the many ways.
The best childrens books of 2020 five books expert. Kwame alexander is a poet, educator, new york times bestselling author of 21. Kwame alexander is a poet, childrens book author, playwright, producer, public speaker, performer, and winner of the newbery medal for his novelinverse. Kwame alexander is a poet, educator, and the new york times bestselling author of 28 books, including rebound, the followup to his, newbery medalwinning middle grade novel, the crossover. Kwame alexanders the crossover is the story of josh and. Watch the interview below to learn more about kwame alexander, view the interview transcript, read a short biography about him or see a selected list of his childrens books. Kwame alexanders powerful ode, a celebration of african american survival, achievement, creativity, and resilience, is brimming with references to historical and contemporary people and cultural touchstones and incorporates direct quotes that speak to past we shall not be moved and present black lives matter. After a childhood spent reading, late in elementary school, alexander lost interest in the kinds of books his teachers assigned him.
Common sense media how to read a book cowritten with kwame alexander the crossover graphic novel written by kwame alexander, illustrated by dawud anyabwile. Spanning centuries and cultures, kwame alexanders new collection, out of wonder. Now hell have his own imprint at houghton mifflin harcourt books for young. About us, east west literary agency, book publishing. Whats it about and what age group is this book for. Follett and newbery medalwinning author kwame alexander are teaming up for a new literacy effort called all books for all kids, with the goal of ensuring that children have access to a wide range.
New childrens book to check out are bloom by doreen cronin, illustrated by david small, death is stupid by anastasia higginbotham, and booked by kwame alexander. The crossover won the newbery award medal and coretta scott king honor award. This electric and heartfelt novelinverse by poet kwame alexander bends and breaks as it captures all the thrills and setbacks, action and emotion of a world cup match. Kwame alexander is a poet, educator, and new york times bestselling author of 21 books, including booked, surfs up, and the crossover, which received the 2015 john newbery medal, the ncte charlotte huck honor, the paterson poetry prize, the lee bennett hopkins poetry award, and the coretta scott king author award honor. The undefeated written by kwame alexander with the fire on high written by elizabeth acevedo. If you asked poet and new york times bestselling author kwame alexander how he developed a love of reading, he would laugh and tell you a story about a 12yearold boy who hated books this is surprising, considering that the charismatic and innovative author of 25 booksrebound, the prequel to alexanders newbery medalwinning novel the crossoverhas. Distinguished contribution to american literature for children, the coretta scott king author award honor, the ncte charlotte. Kwame alexander reads his childrens book the undefeated during the 2019 black authors and readers rock. Kwame alexander wins newbery medal with basketball tale. The experience that inspired poet kwame alexander to open. Kwame alexander is a poet, childrens book author, playwright, producer, public speaker, performer, and winner of the 2015 newbery medal for his novelinverse, the crossover. It was an integral part of his childhood and helped mold him into the awardwinning poet, author, speaker, teacher and visionary he. Kwame alexander is a poet, childrens book author, playwright, producer, dynamic speaker, performer, and the author of fourteen books including and then you know.