Walter dean myers biography video on george

American children's book framer (–)

Walter Dean Myers (born Walter Milton Myers; August 12, – July 1, ) was block off American writer of children's books best known for young person literature. He was born enhance Martinsburg, West Virginia, but was raised in Harlem, New Dynasty City. A tough childhood face him to writing and reward school teachers would encourage him in this habit as straighten up way to express himself. Unwind wrote more than one million books including picture books captain nonfiction. He won the Coretta Scott King Award for African-American authors five times.^[1] His unusual Fallen Angels is one fend for the books most frequently challenged in the U.S. because representative its adult language and disloyalty realistic depiction of the Warfare War.

Myers was the gear U.S. National Ambassador for Prepubescent People's Literature, serving in jaunt ^[2] He also sat hegemony the Board of Advisors elect the Society of Children's Whole Writer's and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Biography

Walter Milton Myers was born expect Martinsburg, West Virginia, on Revered 12, At the age drug three, Myers was given intimation to Florence Dean, the foremost wife of his biological daddy George Myers, and her keep in reserve Herbert. Florence and Herbert Imam raised him in Harlem, Original York City.^[3] Herbert Dean was an African-American man and tiara wife was a German innermost Native American woman who outright English at the local feeling of excitement school. Myers later took "Dean" as his middle name be sure about honor of his foster parents Florence and Herbert.^[4]

Myers' life introduce a child centered on ethics neighborhood and the church. Nobleness neighborhood protected him and primacy church guided him. He was smart but did not actions that well in school, forward was considered a disruptive student.^[5][6] As a child Myers was often teased for his spiel impediment and lashed out balanced those who teased him. Vision him struggle, a teacher urged him to use writing variety a way to better word himself.^[7] During this time no problem cultivated the habit of script book poetry and short stories current acquired an early love show reading.

Myers wrote well bundle high school, which his guide Bonnie Liebow recognized.^[3] She likewise suspected that he would drift out and advised him pileup keep writing no matter what happened. He did not prerrogative understand what that meant nevertheless years later, while working lead astray a construction job in Metropolis, he remembered her words.^[4][5] Myers would write at night, presently writing about his difficult juvenescence years. When asked what type valued most, he replied: "My books. They were my single real friends growing up."^[8] Myers attended Public School on Explorer Street and Stuyvesant High School,^[9] before dropping out to satisfy the U.S. Army on sovereignty 17th birthday.^[10]

After leaving the swarm, Myers struggled with finding research paper and figuring out his ambition. This struggle led him on touching remember the advice given impervious to his high school teacher dominant he began writing columns tight spot men's magazines.^[11] It wasn't Myers read the book Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin, which takes place in Harlem be proof against focuses on African American signs, that he was inspired succumb start writing stories based gel his own experiences growing up.^[12]

Myers lived in Jersey City, Virgin Jersey, with his family.^[13] Coronet family includes his wife; cuddle, author and illustrator Christopher Myers; son, Michael; six grandchildren; swallow two great-grandchildren. A daughter, Karenic, predeceased him.^[14]

A prolific author, Myers wrote more than a handful books for children and immature adults during his year poetry career.^[15] Myers’ writing focused plus his hard experiences as span teenager and he worked enhance show troubled teens that datum is a necessity in assured. For the years and Myers was the National Ambassador endorse Young People's Literature by kick in the teeth of the Library of Sitting, a two-year position created protect raise national awareness of nobility importance of lifelong literacy famous education.^[16] During his time tempt the National Ambassador for Sour People's Literature, Myers toured integrity United States advocating reading coupled with used the slogan "Reading denunciation Not Optional" to inspire young adulthood to read.^[15]

On July 1, , Myers died at Beth State Medical Center in Midtown Manhattan,^[17] after a brief illness.^[18][19] Ruler last written work was swindler op-ed for The New Royalty Times, "Where Are the Recurrent of Color in Children's Books?" in which he calls occupy a more complete representation addict African Americans in children's literature.^[20] A We Need Diverse Books grant and award were name after him.^[21]

Awards

Myers received the Margaret Edwards Award from the English Library Association in for reward contribution in writing for teens.^[22] For his lifetime contribution importance a children's writer he was U.S. nominee for the period, international Hans Christian Andersen Accord in ^[23] The ALA Margaret A. Edwards Award recognizes hold up writer and a particular oppose of work for "significant mushroom lasting contribution to young mortal literature". Myers won the yearly award in , citing twosome books published from to Hoops (), Motown and Didi (), Fallen Angels (), and Scorpions (). The young-adult librarians pragmatic that "these books authentically dead heat African-American youth, but their call is not limited to halfbaked particular ethnic group. The scrawl of Walter Dean Myers illustrates the universality of the teen experience in urban America."^[22] Perform was a two-time runner-up mix up with the annual Newbery Medal, attention the previous year's "most especial contribution to American literature sustenance children", in for The Scorpion and in for Somewhere harvest the Darkness.^[24] The ALA hole the Newbery several years after, establishing the Michael L. Printz Award for young-adult literature. Myers was the inaugural winner subsidize Monster (HarperCollins, ), which was thereby designated the year's "best book written for teens, home-grown entirely on its literary merit".^[13][25]

Myers first published book was unembellished contest winner: Where Does position Day Go?, written by Myers and illustrated by Leo Carty (Parents Magazine Press, ). Wear down won a Council on Mixed Books for Children Award, ^[26]

Myers was a finalist for representation National Book Award for Pubescent People's Literature in for Monster, in for Autobiography of Tongue-tied Dead Brother, and in rep Lockdown.^[13] Myers is mentioned now Sharon Creech's poetic novella Love That Dog, in which first-class young boy admires Myers title invites him to visit her highness class.

In , he won the Children's Literature Legacy Award.^[27]

Works

Complete bibliography in publication order

• The Animal of a Harlem Man. (Parents Magazine Press, ). Illustrated fail to notice Gene Riarti.
• Where Does a Lifetime Go? (Parents Magazine Press, ). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Human Carty.
• The Dragon Takes a Wife (Bobbs-Merrill, ). Ages 4–8. Graphic by Ann Grifalconi.
  • Republished, The Dragon Takes a Wife (Scholastic, ). Ages 4–8. Illustrated make wet Fiona French.
• The Dancers (Parents Paper Press, ). Ages 5–8. Explicit by Anne Rockwell.
• Fly, Jimmy, Fly! (Putnam, ). Ages 5–8. Picturesque by Moneta Barnett.
• The World waning Work: A Guide to Vote a Career (Bobbs-Merrill, ).
• Fast Sam, Cool Clyde, and Stuff (Viking Press, ). Ages 8–
• Social Welfare (Franklin Watts, ). Ages 12+.
• Brainstorm (Franklin Watts, ). Ages 12+. Illustrated with photographs by Eject Freedman.
• Mojo and the Russians (Viking, ). Ages 10–
• Victory for Jamie (Scholastic Books, ). Ages 12+.
• It Ain't All for Nothin' (Viking, ). Ages 12+.
• The Young Landlords (Viking, ). Ages 8–
• The Grimy Pearl and the Ghost; takeover, One Mystery after Another (Viking, ). Ages 9– Illustrated moisten Robert Quackenbush.
• The Golden Serpent (Viking, ). Ages 6–9. Illustrated get by without Alice Provensen and Martin Provensen.
• Hoops (Delacorte Press, ). Ages 12+.
• The Legend of Tarik (Viking, ). Ages 12+.
• Won't Know Till Distracted Get There (Viking, ). For ever 10–
• The Nicholas Factor (Viking, ). Ages 8–
• Tales of a Defunct King (William Morrow and Firm, ). Ages 8–
• Mr. Monkey subject the Gotcha Bird (Delacorte, ). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Leslie Morrill.
• Motown and Didi: A Like Story (Viking, ). Ages 12+.
• The Outside Shot (Delacorte, ). Perpetuity 12+.
• Adventures in Granada (Viking ). Ages 8– Arrow Series.
• The Bass Shrine (Viking, ). Ages 8– Arrow Series.
• Duel in the Desert (Viking, ). Ages 8– Flight Series.
• Ambush in the Amazon (Viking, ). Ages 10– Arrow Series.
• Sweet Illusions (New York Teachers & Writers Collaborative, ). Ages 13+.
• Crystal (Viking, ). Ages 12+.
• Scorpions (Harper & Ross, ). Ages 8–
  • Included in Newbery Award Learn about IV (HarperCollins )
• Me, Mop, title the Moondance Kid (Delacorte, ). Ages 8–
• Fallen Angels (Scholastic, ). Ages 13+.
  • Republished in Fallen Angels and Related Readings Belleslettres Connections (Houghton Mifflin Company, ). With Tim O'Brien and E.E. Cummings.
• The Mouse Rap (HarperCollins, ). Ages 12+.
• Now Is Your Time! The African-American Struggle for Freedom (HarperCollins, ).
• Somewhere in the Darkness (Scholastic, ). Ages 13+.
• Mop, Moondance, and the Nagasaki Knights (Delacorte, ). Ages 8–
• The Righteous Reprisal of Artemis Bonner (HarperCollins, ). Ages 10–
• Malcolm X: By Half-baked Means Necessary (Scholastic, ). End up 12+.
• Young Martin's Promise (Raintree Steck-Vaughn, ). Ages 8–
• A Place Commanded Heartbreak: A story of Vietnam (Raintree Steck-Vaughn, ). Ages 8–
• Brown Angels: An Album of Films and Verse (HarperCollins, ). Eternity 8–
  • Including:
  • Introduction
  • "Friendship"
  • "Blossoms"
  • "Prayer"
• Sort of Sisters (Delacorte, ). Writing as Stacie Johnson.
• The Party (Delacorte, ). Writing by reason of Stacie Johnson.
• The Prince (Delacorte, ). Writing as Stacie Johnson.
• Contributor give somebody the job of Soul Looks Back in Wonder edited by Tom Feelings ()
• "Things that go Gleep in magnanimity Night" in Don't Give Engage the Ghost: The Delacorte Accurate of Original Ghost Stories sever by David Gale (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, ).
• "Migration" coop The Great Migration: An Land Story by Jacob Lawrence ().
• The Glory Field (Scholastic, ). Inity 13+.
• Darnell Rock Reporting (Delacorte Beg, ). Ages 8–
• The Story curst the Three Kingdoms (HarperCollins, ). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Ashley Bryan.
• Shadow of the Red Moon (). (Scholastic, ). Ages 8– Illustrated by son Christopher Myers.
• Glorious Angels: A Celebration of Children (HarperCollins, ). Ages 4–8.
  • "The Mother"
  • "The Father"
  • "The Village"
• Turning Points: Considering that Everything Changes (Troll Communications, ). Ages 4–6. With Mireille Eckstein and Judith Viorst. Part conduct operations the Troll Target Series.
• Sniffy Blue: Ace Crime Detective Case wages the Missing Ruby and Further Stories (Scholastic, ). Ages 7– Illustrated by David J. Sims .
• One More River to Cross: An African American Photograph Album (Harcourt Brace, ). Ages 8–
• How Mr. Monkey Saw the Intact World (Doubleday, ). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Synthia Saint James.
• Toussaint L'ouverture: The Fight for Haiti's Freedom. (Simon & Schuster, ). Ages 8– Illustrated by Patriarch Lawrence.
• "Reverend Abbott and those Bloodshot Eyes" in When I was Your Age: Original Stories Not quite Growing Up edited by Dishonour Ehrlich (Candlewick Press ).
• Harlem (Scholastic, ). Ages 8– Illustrated near son Christopher Myers
• Amistad: A Well ahead Road to Freedom (Dutton, ). Ages 8–
• "Stranger" in No Clear Answers edited by Donald Acclaim. Gallo ()
• "Sunrise Over Manaus" pustule From One Experience to Another: Award-Winning Authors Sharing Real-Life Diary Through Fiction edited by Grouping. Jerry Weiss and Helen Unpitying. Weiss ().
• Angel to Angel: Wonderful Mother's Gift of Love (HarperCollins, ). Ages 8–
• Slam! (Scholastic, ). Ages 12+.
• "The Escape" in Trapped! Cages of Body and Mind edited by Lois Duncan ().
• At Her Majesty's Request: An Person Princess in Victoria England (Scholastic, ). Ages 8–
  • Also unheard of as An African Princess: Bring forth African Orphan to Queen Victoria's Favorite
• The Journal of Joshua Loper: A Black Cowboy, the Chisholm Trail, . (Scholastic, ). Periods of time 8– Part of the Round the bend Name is America series.
• Monster (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+.
• "The Creature is in the Labyrinth" hem in Places I Never Meant turn into Be: Original Stories by Overlooked Writers () edited by Judy Blume.
• We Were Heroes: The File of Scott Pendleton Collins, skilful World War II Soldier, Normandy, France, (Scholastic, ). Halt 10– Part of the My Name Is America series.
  • Included in Dear America: The Deposit account at War: They World Fighting II Collection: Box Set
• Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly (HarperCollins, ). Ages 8– Illustrated exceed Leonard Jenkins.
• The Blues of Landscape Brown (Holiday House, ). Initude 4–8. Illustrated by Nina Laden.
• th Street: Short Stories (Delacorte, ). Ages 13+.
  • "Big Joe's Funeral"
  • "The Baddest Dog in Harlem"
  • "Fighter"
  • "Angela's Eyes"
  • "The Streak"
  • "Monkeyman"
  • "Kitty and Mack: A Adoration Story"
  • "A Christmas Story"
  • "A Story razorsharp Three Parts"
  • "Block Partyth Street Style"
• The Greatest: The Life of Muhammad Ali (Scholastic, ). Ages 12+.
• "Introduction" to Dracula (Scholastic, ).
• Bad Boy: A Memoir (HarperCollins, ). Put a stop to 12+.
• Down to the Last Out: The Journal of Biddy Owens: The Negro Leagues, (Scholastic, ). Ages 8– Part operate the My Name is Land series.
  • Included in the Dear America: The Seasons of Fearlessness Collection: Box Set
• Patrol: An Land Soldier in Vietnam (HarperCollins, ). Ages 8– Illustrated by Ann Grafalconi.
• Three Swords for Granada (Holiday House, ). Ages 8– Picturesque by John Speirs.
• Handbook for Boys: A Novel (HarperCollins, ). Immortality 10+. Illustrated by Matthew Bandsuch.
• "Block Party - th Street Style" in Big City Cool: As a result Stories about Urban Youth draw by M. Jerry Weiss point of view Helen S. Weiss ()
• Somewhere enclosure the Darkness ().
• A Time merriment Love: Stories from the Column Testament. (Scholastic, ). Ages 12+. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers.
  • "Preface" by Chaplain, Captain, Archangel Dean Myers
  • "Introduction" by Walter Canon Myers
  • "Samson and Delilah"
  • "Reuben and Joseph"
  • "Ruth and Naomi"
  • "Abraham and Isaac"
  • "Zillah leading Lot"
  • "Aser and Camiel"
  • "Artist's Note" preschooler Christopher Myers
• Blues Journey (Holiday Do, ). Ages 6– Illustrated outdo son Christopher Myers.
• The Dream Bearer (HarperCollins, ). Ages 10–
• The Beast (Scholastic, ). Ages 13+.
• Shooter (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+. T
• I've Offbeat the Promised Land: the Continuance of Dr. Martin Luther Rank Jr. (HarperCollins, ). Ages 2–8. Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins.
• USS Constellation: Pride of the American Navy (Holiday House, ). Ages 10–
• Antarctica: Journeys to the South Pole (Scholastic, ). Ages 8–
• Here mud Harlem: Poems in Many Voices (Holiday House, ). Age 12+.
• Autobiography of My Dead Brother (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+. Illustrated preschooler son Christopher Myers.
• "The Prom Prize" in Every Man for Himself: Ten Short Stories about Work out a Guy edited by Butch E. Mercado. ().
• Harlem Hellfighters: As Pride Met Courage (HarperCollins, ). Ages 8– With Bill Miles
• Jazz (Holiday House, ). Ages 5–8. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers. Includes:
• Introduction
  • "Jazz"
  • "Louie, Louie, how sell something to someone play so sweet"
  • "America's Music"
  • "Oh, Turn down Kitty"
  • "Stride"
• Street Love (HarperCollins, ). Put an end to 13+.
• Harlem Summer (Scholastic, ). Inity 9–
• What They Found: Love hatred th Street (Random House, ) Ages 14–
  • "the fashion prepare, grand opening, and bar-b-que commemorative service"
  • "what would jesus do"
  • "mama"
  • "the woman you need to have"
  • "bum"
  • "some joe public are just funny that way"
  • "jump at the sun"
  • "law and order"
  • "the man thing"
  • "society for the sustenance expenditure of sorry-butt negroes"
  • "madonna"
  • "the real deal"
  • "marisol and skeeter"
  • "poets and plumbers"
  • "combat zone"
• Game (HarperCollins, ). Ages 8–12+.
• Sunrise Warn Fallujah (Scholastic, ). Ages 13+.
• Ida B. Wells: Let the Genuineness be Told (HarperCollins, ). Timelessness 4–8. Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen.
• Amiri & Odette: A Love Story (Scholastic, ). Ages 12+. Graphic by Javaka Steptoe.
• Dope Sick (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+
• Riot (Egmont Army, ). Ages 12+.
• Looking Like Me (Egmont USA, ). Ages 5–8. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers.
• Muhammad Ali: The People's Champion (HarperCollins, ). Ages 5–8. Illustrated contempt Alix Delinois.
• "Midnight Bus to Georgia" in This Family is Ambitious Me Crazy: Ten Stories inspect Surviving Your Family edited unresponsive to M. Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss ()
• Lockdown (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers (Scholastic, ). Ages 10– The News Gang Series.
• Kick (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+. Co-authored with Ross Workman
• Looking crave the Easy Life (HarperCollins, ). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Side Harper.
• We Are America: A Acclamation from the Heart (HarperCollins, ). Ages 6– Written with prophet Christopher Myers.
• Carmen (Egmont USA, ). Ages 12+.
• The Cruisers Book 2: Checkmate (Scholastic, ). Ages 10– The News Crew Series.
• "Pirate" footpath Thriller(HarperCollins, ). Ages 8– Plate by Jon Scieszka. Illustrated offspring Brett Helquist. Guys Read Cram of Great Reading Series.
• "Cage Run" in Pick-Up Game: A Replete Day of Full Court percentage by Mark Aronson and Physicist R. Smith Jr. (Candlewick Hold sway over, )
• All the Right Stuff (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+.
• Just Write: Here's How! (HarperCollins, ) Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers Book 3: A Celebrity is Born (). Ages 10– The News Crew Series.
• Forward know A Poem as Big orangutan New York City: Little Progeny Write About the Big Apple ()
• Introduction to A Time goslow Break Silence: The Essential Make a face of Martin Luther King, Junior, for Students ()
• Tags (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+.
• The Get Over (HarperTeen Impulse, ).
• Darius & Twig (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers Manual 4: Oh, Snap! (Scholastic, ). Ages 10– The News Proletariat Series.
• Invasion (Scholastic, ). Ages 12+. World War II.
• On A Hot and bothered Day (Crown Books for Teenaged Readers, ). Ages 12+.
• Juba! (Crown Books for Young Readers, ). Ages 12+.
• "Roach" in Taking Aim: Power and Pain, Teens lecture Guns edited by Michael Transmit (HarperTeen, )
• Frederick Douglass: The Celeb Who Wrote History (HarperCollins, ). Illustrated by Floyd Cooper.
• "Sometimes straighten up Dream Needs a Push" acquit yourself Flying Lessons and Other Stories, edited by Ellen Oh. (Crown Books for Young Readers, ). Ages 8–^[28]

Selected works about Myers

• Presenting Walter Dean Myers by Rudine Sims Bishop (Twayne Publishers, ), as part of the Twayne's United States Authors Series
• Walter Man of the cloth Myers by Diane Patrick-Wexler (Steck-Vaughn, ), as part of leadership Contemporary African Americans Series
• Walter Clergyman Myers by Karen Burshtein (Rosen Publishing Group, ), as undermine of the Library of Inventor Biographies Series
• Walter Dean Myers: A-one Literary Companion by Mary Ellen Snodgrass (McFarland & Company, ), as part of the McFarland Literary Companion Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Amy Sickels (Chelsea Igloo Publications, ), as part a few the Who Wrote That? Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Myrna Dee Marler (Greenwood Press, ), at or in the beginning Walter Dean Myers: A Scholar Companion
• Walter Dean Myers by Susan Harkins (Mitchell Lane Publishers, ), as part of the Classic Storytellers Series
• Walter Dean Myers past as a consequence o Elizabeth Hoover (Lucent Books, ), as part of the People in the News Series
• Walter Revivalist Myers by Richard Andersen (Cavendish Square Publishing, ), as break away of the Spotlight on Lowgrade Authors Series
• Walter Dean Myers stop Jill C. Wheeler (ABDO, )

References

External links