Hope Anita Smith facts for kids

Hope Anita Smith is an American writer who creates wonderful books for children. She is especially known for her poetry and stories for middle schoolers. One of her most famous books, Keeping the Night Watch, even won a special award called the Coretta Scott King Honor.

About Hope Anita Smith

Hope Anita Smith was born in Akron, Ohio. She loved writing and found her passion for creating stories for kids in a class taught by another author, Myra Cohn Livingston. This class helped her discover her unique voice and made her want to write for young readers.

She studied English at La Sierra University for a few years, learning more about language and literature.

Hope Anita Smith wrote her book My Daddy Rules the World: Poems about Dads because she really admires how fathers connect with their children. She wanted to celebrate dads everywhere and show how important they are.

Books by Hope Anita Smith

Hope Anita Smith has written many different kinds of books. Here are some of them:

Picture Books

• Mother Poems (Henry Holt, 2009)
• My Daddy Rules the World: Poems about Dads (Henry Holt, 2017)

Books for Middle Schoolers

• The Way a Door Closes, illustrated by Shane W. Evans (Henry Holt, 2003)
• Keeping the Night Watch (Henry Holt, 2008)
• It Rained Warm Bread, co-authored with Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet, illustrated by Lea Lyon (Henry Holt, 2019)

Awards and Special Mentions

Hope Anita Smith's books have won several important awards:

• 2004 John Steptoe New Talent Author Award for The Way a Door Closes, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
• 2004 Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature for The Way a Door Closes, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
• 2004 Claudia Lewis Award for The Way a Door Closes, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
• 2008 School Library Journal's Best Books of 2008 for Keeping the Night Watch
• 2009 Coretta Scott King Honor for Keeping the Night Watch
• 2009 American Library Association Notable Children's Books for Keeping the Night Watch