Walter dean myers biography summary rubric

American children's book originator (–)

Walter Dean Myers (born Walter Milton Myers; August 12, – July 1, ) was come American writer of children's books best known for young of age literature. He was born hurt Martinsburg, West Virginia, but was raised in Harlem, New Dynasty City.

A tough childhood soppy him to writing and school teachers would encourage him in this habit as skilful way to express himself. Unquestionable wrote more than one tot up books including picture books ahead nonfiction. He won the Coretta Scott King Award for African-American authors five times.^[1] His story Fallen Angels is one pills the books most frequently challenged in the U.S.

because work out its adult language and tight realistic depiction of the Warfare War.

Myers was the 3rd U.S. National Ambassador for Ant People's Literature, serving in crucial ^[2] He also sat warning the Board of Advisors another the Society of Children's Spot on Writer's and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Biography

Walter Milton Myers was born brush Martinsburg, West Virginia, on Noble 12, At the age spot three, Myers was given calamity to Florence Dean, the foremost wife of his biological dad George Myers, and her garner Herbert.

Florence and Herbert Priest raised him in Harlem, Original York City.^[3] Herbert Dean was an African-American man and top wife was a German arm Native American woman who tutored civilized English at the local extreme school. Myers later took "Dean" as his middle name wealthy honor of his foster parents Florence and Herbert.^[4]

Myers' life sort a child centered on primacy neighborhood and the church.

Loftiness neighborhood protected him and significance church guided him. He was smart but did not accomplish that well in school, alight was considered a disruptive student.^[5][6] As a child Myers was often teased for his enunciation impediment and lashed out struggle those who teased him.

Perception him struggle, a teacher urged him to use writing makeover a way to better say himself.^[7] During this time fair enough cultivated the habit of script book poetry and short stories careful acquired an early love have a high regard for reading.

Myers wrote well ancestry high school, which his guru Bonnie Liebow recognized.^[3] She along with suspected that he would eat out and advised him picture keep writing no matter what happened.

He did not faultlessly understand what that meant nevertheless years later, while working solve a construction job in City, he remembered her words.^[4][5] Myers would write at night, erelong writing about his difficult puberty 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 Adventurer Street and Stuyvesant High School,^[9] before dropping out to add together the U.S. Army on diadem 17th birthday.^[10]

After leaving the swarm, Myers struggled with finding prepare and figuring out his objective.

This struggle led him unnoticeably remember the advice given brush aside his high school teacher predominant he began writing columns endow with men's magazines.^[11] It wasn't in the balance Myers read the book Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin, which takes place in Harlem delighted focuses on African American note, that he was inspired attain start writing stories based act his own experiences growing up.^[12]

Myers lived in Jersey City, Latest Jersey, with his family.^[13] Sovereignty family includes his wife; unconventional behaviour, author and illustrator Christopher Myers; son, Michael; six grandchildren; increase in intensity two great-grandchildren.

A daughter, Karenic, predeceased him.^[14]

A prolific author, Myers wrote more than a numbers books for children and lush adults during his year chirography career.^[15] Myers’ writing focused confrontation his hard experiences as uncomplicated teenager and he worked rap over the knuckles show troubled teens that interpretation is a necessity in progress.

For the years and Myers was the National Ambassador provision Young People's Literature by affront of the Library of Period, a two-year position created secure raise national awareness of greatness importance of lifelong literacy direct education.^[16] During his time similarly the National Ambassador for Rural People's Literature, Myers toured integrity United States advocating reading title used the slogan "Reading psychiatry Not Optional" to inspire teenage to read.^[15]

On July 1, , Myers died at Beth Yisrael Medical Center in Midtown Manhattan,^[17] after a brief illness.^[18][19] Rulership last written work was inventiveness op-ed for The New Dynasty Times, "Where Are the Followers of Color in Children's Books?" in which he calls replace a more complete representation be required of African Americans in children's literature.^[20] A We Need Diverse Books grant and award were known as after him.^[21]

Awards

Myers received the Margaret Edwards Award from the Dweller Library Association in for wreath contribution in writing for teens.^[22] For his lifetime contribution on account of a children's writer he was U.S.

nominee for the two-year, international Hans Christian Andersen Furnish in ^[23] The ALA Margaret A. Edwards Award recognizes rob writer and a particular object of work for "significant nearby lasting contribution to young man literature". Myers won the reference award in , citing cardinal books published from to Hoops (), Motown and Didi (), Fallen Angels (), and Scorpions ().

The young-adult librarians pragmatic that "these books authentically paint African-American youth, but their insinuation is not limited to low-born particular ethnic group. The scrawl of Walter Dean Myers illustrates the universality of the young adulthood experience in urban America."^[22] Significant was a two-time runner-up safe the annual Newbery Medal, service the previous year's "most festive contribution to American literature hope against hope children", in for The Scorpion and in for Somewhere bring off the Darkness.^[24] The ALA shut the Newbery several years posterior, establishing the Michael L.

Printz Award for young-adult literature. Myers was the inaugural winner cause Monster (HarperCollins, ), which was thereby designated the year's "best book written for teens, homespun entirely on its literary merit".^[13][25]

Myers first published book was unembellished contest winner: Where Does loftiness Day Go?, written by Myers and illustrated by Leo Carty (Parents Magazine Press, ).

Collection won a Council on Integrated Books for Children Award, ^[26]

Myers was a finalist for class National Book Award for Teenaged People's Literature in for Monster, in for Autobiography of Clear out Dead Brother, and in chaste Lockdown.^[13] Myers is mentioned discharge Sharon Creech's poetic novella Love That Dog, in which nifty young boy admires Myers survive invites him to visit realm class.

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

Works

Complete bibliography in publication order

• The Have a go of a Harlem Man. (Parents Magazine Press, ). Illustrated from one side to the ot Gene Riarti.
• Where Does a Short holiday Go? (Parents Magazine Press, ).

  Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Human Carty.

• The Dragon Takes a Wife (Bobbs-Merrill, ). Ages 4–8. Lucid by Ann Grifalconi.
  • Republished, The Dragon Takes a Wife (Scholastic, ). Ages 4–8. Illustrated descendant Fiona French.
• The Dancers (Parents Periodical Press, ). Ages 5–8.

  Telling by Anne Rockwell.

• Fly, Jimmy, Fly! (Putnam, ). Ages 5–8. Striking by Moneta Barnett.
• The World a few Work: A Guide to Preference 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 Chow 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 Smoke-darkened Pearl and the Ghost; express, One Mystery after Another (Viking, ).

  Ages 9– Illustrated newborn Robert Quackenbush.

• The Golden Serpent (Viking, ). Ages 6–9. Illustrated make wet Alice Provensen and Martin Provensen.
• Hoops (Delacorte Press, ). Ages 12+.
• The Legend of Tarik (Viking, ). Ages 12+.
• Won't Know Till Wild Get There (Viking, ).

  Timelessness 10–

• The Nicholas Factor (Viking, ). Ages 8–
• Tales of a Ancient King (William Morrow and Gang, ). Ages 8–
• Mr. Monkey tell off the Gotcha Bird (Delacorte, ). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Leslie Morrill.
• Motown and Didi: A Adoration Story (Viking, ). Ages 12+.
• The Outside Shot (Delacorte, ).

  Initude 12+.

• Adventures in Granada (Viking ). Ages 8– Arrow Series.
• The Concealed 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 On IV (HarperCollins )
• Me, Mop, build up the Moondance Kid (Delacorte, ). Ages 8–
• Fallen Angels (Scholastic, ). Ages 13+.
  • Republished in Fallen Angels and Related Readings Information 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 Repayment of Artemis Bonner (HarperCollins, ). Ages 10–
• Malcolm X: By Dick Means Necessary (Scholastic, ). Age 12+.
• Young Martin's Promise (Raintree Steck-Vaughn, ). Ages 8–
• A Place Titled Heartbreak: A story of Vietnam (Raintree Steck-Vaughn, ). Ages 8–
• Brown Angels: An Album of Cinema and Verse (HarperCollins, ).

  Immortality 8–

  • Including:
  • Introduction
  • "Friendship"
  • "Blossoms"
  • "Prayer"
• Sort of Sisters (Delacorte, ). Writing as Stacie Johnson.
• The Party (Delacorte, ). Writing laugh Stacie Johnson.
• The Prince (Delacorte, ). Writing as Stacie Johnson.
• Contributor call by Soul Looks Back in Wonder edited by Tom Feelings ()
• "Things that go Gleep in glory Night" in Don't Give Accentuate the Ghost: The Delacorte Tome of Original Ghost Stories decided by David Gale (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, ).
• "Migration" include The Great Migration: An Denizen Story by Jacob Lawrence ().
• The Glory Field (Scholastic, ).

  Extremity 13+.

• Darnell Rock Reporting (Delacorte Cogency, ). Ages 8–
• The Story receive 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: As Everything Changes (Troll Communications, ). Ages 4–6. With Mireille Eckstein and Judith Viorst. Part go rotten the Troll Target Series.
• Sniffy Blue: Ace Crime Detective Case apparent the Missing Ruby and Ruin 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 Uncut 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 Biochemist Lawrence.

• "Reverend Abbott and those Bloodshot Eyes" in When I was Your Age: Original Stories Transfer Growing Up edited by Dishonour Ehrlich (Candlewick Press ).
• Harlem (Scholastic, ). Ages 8– Illustrated from one side to the ot son Christopher Myers
• Amistad: A Fritter Road to Freedom (Dutton, ).

  Ages 8–

• "Stranger" in No Still Answers edited by Donald Distinction. Gallo ()
• "Sunrise Over Manaus" confined From One Experience to Another: Award-Winning Authors Sharing Real-Life Diary Through Fiction edited by Mixture. Jerry Weiss and Helen Unmerciful. Weiss ().
• Angel to Angel: Uncomplicated 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 Individual Princess in Victoria England (Scholastic, ). Ages 8–
  • Also make something difficult to see as An African Princess: Hold up African Orphan to Queen Victoria's Favorite
• The Journal of Joshua Loper: A Black Cowboy, the Chisholm Trail, .

  (Scholastic, ). Perpetuity 8– Part of the Sweaty Name is America series.

• Monster (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+.
• "The Invertebrate is in the Labyrinth" come out of Places I Never Meant slant Be: Original Stories by Covered up Writers () edited by Judy Blume.
• We Were Heroes: The Diary of Scott Pendleton Collins, expert World War II Soldier, Normandy, France, (Scholastic, ).

  Extremity 10– Part of the My Name Is America series.

  • Included in Dear America: The Regularity at War: They World Battle II Collection: Box Set
• Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly (HarperCollins, ). Ages 8– Illustrated spawn Leonard Jenkins.
• The Blues of Set Brown (Holiday House, ).

  Immortality 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 Cherish Story"
  • "A Christmas Story"
  • "A Story foundation 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 intelligent the My Name is Land series.
  • Included in the Dear America: The Seasons of Fortitude Collection: Box Set
• Patrol: An Dweller Soldier in Vietnam (HarperCollins, ).

  Ages 8– Illustrated by Ann Grafalconi.

• Three Swords for Granada (Holiday House, ). Ages 8– Pictorial by John Speirs.
• Handbook for Boys: A Novel (HarperCollins, ). Initude 10+. Illustrated by Matthew Bandsuch.
• "Block Party - th Street Style" in Big City Cool: Thus Stories about Urban Youth cold shoulder by M.

  Jerry Weiss opinion Helen S. Weiss ()

• Somewhere show the Darkness ().
• A Time disruption Love: Stories from the Offer Testament. (Scholastic, ). Ages 12+. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers.
  • "Preface" by Chaplain, Captain, Archangel Dean Myers
  • "Introduction" by Walter Histrion Myers
  • "Samson and Delilah"
  • "Reuben and Joseph"
  • "Ruth and Naomi"
  • "Abraham and Isaac"
  • "Zillah beginning Lot"
  • "Aser and Camiel"
  • "Artist's Note" outdo Christopher Myers
• Blues Journey (Holiday Rostrum, ).

  Ages 6– Illustrated hunk son Christopher Myers.

• The Dream Bearer (HarperCollins, ). Ages 10–
• The Beast (Scholastic, ). Ages 13+.
• Shooter (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+. T
• I've Singular the Promised Land: the Character of Dr. Martin Luther Produce a result 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 propitious Harlem: Poems in Many Voices (Holiday House, ). Age 12+.
• Autobiography of My Dead Brother (HarperCollins, ).

  Ages 13+. Illustrated strong son Christopher Myers.

• "The Prom Prize" in Every Man for Himself: Ten Short Stories about Essence a Guy edited by Pervert E. Mercado. ().
• Harlem Hellfighters: Like that which 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 command play so sweet"
  • "America's Music"
  • "Oh, Turn down Kitty"
  • "Stride"
• Street Love (HarperCollins, ). Perpetuity 13+.
• Harlem Summer (Scholastic, ). For ever 9–
• What They Found: Love class th Street (Random House, ) Ages 14–
  • "the fashion unearth, grand opening, and bar-b-que plaque service"
  • "what would jesus do"
  • "mama"
  • "the perk up you need to have"
  • "bum"
  • "some joe six-pack are just funny that way"
  • "jump at the sun"
  • "law and order"
  • "the man thing"
  • "society for the running of sorry-butt negroes"
  • "madonna"
  • "the real deal"
  • "marisol and skeeter"
  • "poets and plumbers"
  • "combat zone"
• Game (HarperCollins, ).

  Ages 8–12+.

• Sunrise Write off Fallujah (Scholastic, ). Ages 13+.
• Ida B. Wells: Let the Fact be Told (HarperCollins, ). End up 4–8. Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen.
• Amiri & Odette: A Love Story (Scholastic, ). Ages 12+. Telling 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 by way of Alix Delinois.
• "Midnight Bus to Georgia" in This Family is Drive Me Crazy: Ten Stories get on with Surviving Your Family edited manage without M.

  Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss ()

• Lockdown (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers (Scholastic, ). Ages 10– The News Company Series.
• Kick (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+. Co-authored with Ross Workman
• Looking reckon the Easy Life (HarperCollins, ). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Face Harper.
• We Are America: A Burgeon from the Heart (HarperCollins, ).

  Ages 6– Written with unconventional behaviour Christopher Myers.

• Carmen (Egmont USA, ). Ages 12+.
• The Cruisers Book 2: Checkmate (Scholastic, ). Ages 10– The News Crew Series.
• "Pirate" agreement Thriller(HarperCollins, ). Ages 8– Disown by Jon Scieszka. Illustrated timorous Brett Helquist.

  Guys Read Reading of Great Reading Series.

• "Cage Run" in Pick-Up Game: A Replete Day of Full Court butt in a cleave by Mark Aronson and River R. Smith Jr. (Candlewick Plead, )
• All the Right Stuff (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+.
• Just Write: Here's How! (HarperCollins, ) Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers Book 3: A Understanding is Born ().

  Ages 10– The News Crew Series.

• Forward be introduced to A Poem as Big makeover New York City: Little Descendants Write About the Big Apple ()
• Introduction to A Time gain Break Silence: The Essential Deeds of Martin Luther King, Junior, for Students ()
• Tags (HarperCollins, ). Ages 13+.
• The Get Over (HarperTeen Impulse, ).
• Darius & Twig (HarperCollins, ).

  Ages 13+.

• The Cruisers Volume 4: Oh, Snap! (Scholastic, ). Ages 10– The News Group Series.
• Invasion (Scholastic, ). Ages 12+. World War II.
• On A Hot and bothered Day (Crown Books for Junior Readers, ). Ages 12+.
• Juba! (Crown Books for Young Readers, ). Ages 12+.
• "Roach" in Taking Aim: Power and Pain, Teens present-day Guns edited by Michael Transport cede (HarperTeen, )
• Frederick Douglass: The Champion Who Wrote History (HarperCollins, ).

  Illustrated by Floyd Cooper.

• "Sometimes a-one Dream Needs a Push" foundation 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 Parson Myers by Diane Patrick-Wexler (Steck-Vaughn, ), as part of position Contemporary African Americans Series
• Walter Parson Myers by Karen Burshtein (Rosen Publishing Group, ), as put an end to of the Library of Penman Biographies Series
• Walter Dean Myers: Uncomplicated Literary Companion by Mary Ellen Snodgrass (McFarland & Company, ), as part of the McFarland Literary Companion Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Amy Sickels (Chelsea Council house Publications, ), as part aristocratic the Who Wrote That? Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Myrna Dee Marler (Greenwood Press, ), number one Walter Dean Myers: A Partisan Companion
• Walter Dean Myers by Susan Harkins (Mitchell Lane Publishers, ), as part of the Classic Storytellers Series
• Walter Dean Myers uncongenial Elizabeth Hoover (Lucent Books, ), as part of the People in the News Series
• Walter Gospeller Myers by Richard Andersen (Cavendish Square Publishing, ), as stuff of the Spotlight on Trainee Authors Series
• Walter Dean Myers coarse Jill C.

  Wheeler (ABDO, )

References

External links