Kwame Alexander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kwame Alexander
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Alexander at the 2019 Texas Book Festival
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| Born | Edward Curtis Kwame Alexander II August 21, 1969 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Children's Book Author |
| Alma mater | Virginia Tech |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Notable awards |
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| Spouse | Stephanie Stanley |
| Relatives | Sia Alexander (sister), Nataki Alexander (sister) and Ade’ Alexander (brother) |
Kwame Alexander (born August 21, 1968) is an American writer. He is famous for his awesome poetry and books for kids and teens. Many of his stories are told through poems, which is a really cool way to read!
Contents
About Kwame Alexander
Kwame Alexander was born in Manhattan, New York, and grew up in Virginia. He was always surrounded by books because his dad was a book publisher and his mom was a teacher. Imagine growing up in a house full of stories!
He went to Virginia Tech for college. He first thought about becoming a doctor, but then he took a writing class. This class was with a famous poet named Nikki Giovanni, and it changed his path. On May 11, 2024, he received a special honorary degree from American University in Washington, DC.
His Amazing Books
Kwame Alexander writes many different kinds of books. He writes picture books for younger kids and novels in verse for older kids and teens. Novels in verse are like long stories told through poems.
One of his picture books, Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, was chosen for a special reading program in Michigan in 2014. His illustrated poem The Undefeated won a Newbery Honor in 2020. This book is a powerful tribute to Black heroes.
Kwame Alexander also helps kids learn about writing and publishing through his "Bookinaday" program. He often shares his thoughts and stories on National Public Radio's Morning Edition.
His book The Door of No Return is a historical novel told in verse. It's about an 11-year-old boy named Koffi in Ghana in 1861. Kwame Alexander was inspired to write this story after visiting Ghana himself.
Popular Novels in Verse
- The Crossover (2015): This book is about twin brothers who love basketball. It's told completely in verse and is one of his most famous books.
- Booked (2016): This story follows a soccer-loving boy named Nick. It's also told in verse and explores family, friendship, and growing up.
- Solo (2017): Co-written with Mary Rand Hess, this book is about a teen rock star who goes on a journey to find his family.
- Rebound (2018): This is a prequel to The Crossover, telling the story of the basketball twins' dad when he was younger.
- Swing (2018): Another book co-written with Mary Rand Hess, it's about two friends who discover old letters and learn about love and history.
- The Door of No Return (2022): As mentioned, this is a historical story set in Ghana.
Picture Books for Younger Readers
- Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band (2011)
- How to Read a Book (2019): This book, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, is a beautiful guide to the joy of reading.
- The Undefeated (2019): Illustrated by Kadir Nelson, this powerful poem celebrates the strength and resilience of Black people throughout history.
- An American Story (2023): This book, also known as Unspoken in the UK, explores important historical themes.
Awards and Honors
Kwame Alexander has won many important awards for his writing. His book The Crossover won the prestigious Newbery Medal in 2015. This is one of the highest honors for children's literature in the United States. The Crossover also received an Honor award from the Coretta Scott King Award. This award recognizes outstanding African American authors and illustrators.
The Undefeated also won a Newbery Honor in 2020 and a Coretta Scott King Book Award for its illustrations. In 2017, Kwame Alexander received the Pat Conroy Legacy Award, which honors writers who have a lasting impact on their community.
Many of his books have become New York Times bestsellers. These include The Crossover, Booked, Out of Wonder, Solo, Becoming Mohammed Ali, The Undefeated, and The Door of No Return.
In 2023, the TV show adaptation of The Crossover won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Young Teen Series. This shows how much people love his stories! In 2024, his book Unspoken won the School Library Association Children’s Choice Award.
