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 a famous American writer. He writes amazing poetry and books for kids. Many of his books have won important awards.
Contents
About Kwame Alexander
Kwame Alexander was born in Manhattan, New York. He grew up in Virginia. His dad was a scholar and published books. His mom was a teacher. This meant he was always surrounded by books!
Education and Learning
Alexander went to Virginia Tech for college. He first planned to study medicine. But then he took a writing class with the famous poet Nikki Giovanni. That class changed his path! In May 2024, he received a special honorary degree from American University in Washington, DC.
Kwame Alexander's Books
Kwame Alexander has written many popular books. He often writes in a style called "verse novels." This means the story is told using poems instead of regular paragraphs.
Popular Picture Books
His picture book Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band was chosen for a special reading program in Michigan in 2014. Another of his illustrated poems, The Undefeated, won a Newbery Honor in 2020.
Stories from History
The Door of No Return is a historical verse novel. It takes place in Ghana in 1861. The story is told by an 11-year-old boy named Koffi. Kwame Alexander was inspired to write this book after visiting Ghana.
Helping Young Writers
Kwame Alexander also runs a program called "Bookinaday." This program helps kids learn about writing and publishing their own books. He also shares his thoughts and stories on National Public Radio's Morning Edition show.
Awards and Honors
Kwame Alexander has won many awards for his writing. These awards show how much his books are loved and respected.
Major Awards
- In 2015, his verse novel The Crossover won the Newbery Medal. This is one of the highest honors for children's books.
- The Crossover also received an Honor award from the Coretta Scott King Award.
- In 2017, he received the Pat Conroy Legacy Award. This award celebrates writers who have a lasting impact on their community.
- In 2024, his book Unspoken won the School Library Association Children’s Choice Award.
Bestselling Books
Many of Kwame Alexander's books have become New York Times bestsellers. This means lots of people bought and read them! Some of these popular books include:
- The Crossover
- Booked
- Out of Wonder
- Solo
- Becoming Mohammed Ali
- The Undefeated
- The Door of No Return
Recognized by Critics
Many of his books have been named "best books of the year" by important book reviewers.
- The Crossover was recognized by Kirkus Reviews and Shelf Awareness in 2014.
- Booked was a "best book" in 2016 by Kirkus Reviews.
- Out of Wonder and Solo were also named "best books" by Kirkus Reviews in 2017.
- Rebound was a "best book" by The Horn Book Magazine in 2018.
- The Undefeated was recognized by Kirkus Reviews and The Horn Book Magazine in 2019.
- Becoming Mohammed Ali was a "best book" by Kirkus Reviews in 2020.
- The Door of No Return was named a "best book" by Kirkus Reviews, The Horn Book Magazine, and Shelf Awareness in 2022.
TV Adaptation
In December 2023, a TV show based on The Crossover won an Emmy Award. It won for "Outstanding Young Teen Series" at the Children's and Family Emmy Awards.
