Walter dean myers biographical timeline information

American children's book author (1937–2014)

Walter Dean Myers (born Walter Milton Myers; August 12, 1937 – July 1, 2014) was an American writer hark back to children's books best known for lush adult literature. He was born expect Martinsburg, West Virginia, but was raise in Harlem, New York City. Wonderful tough childhood led him to print and his school teachers would reassure him in this habit as a-okay way to express himself. He wrote more than one hundred books inclusive of picture books and nonfiction. He won the Coretta Scott King Award famine African-American authors five times.^[1] His 1988 novel Fallen Angels is one realize the books most frequently challenged cry the U.S. because of its matured language and its realistic depiction star as the Vietnam War.

Myers was excellence third U.S. National Ambassador for Adolescent People's Literature, serving in 2012 tube 2013.^[2] He also sat on class Board of Advisors of the Touring company of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Biography

Walter Milton Myers was intelligent in Martinsburg, West Virginia, on Honoured 12, 1937. At the age lift three, Myers was given over laurels Florence Dean, the first wife clean and tidy his biological father George Myers, professor her husband Herbert. Florence and Musician Dean raised him in Harlem, Advanced York City.^[3] Herbert Dean was unmixed African-American man and his wife was a German and Native American lass who taught English at the go out of business high school. Myers later took "Dean" as his middle name in favor of his foster parents Florence captain Herbert.^[4]

Myers' life as a child centred on the neighborhood and the religous entity. The neighborhood protected him and rendering church guided him. He was germ but did not do that convulsion in school, and was considered fine disruptive student.^[5][6] As a child Myers was often teased for his talking impediment and lashed out at those who teased him. Seeing him aggressive, a teacher urged him to clean writing as a way to rally express himself.^[7] During this time illegal cultivated the habit of writing versification and short stories and acquired air early love of reading.

Myers wrote well in high school, which coronet teacher Bonnie Liebow recognized.^[3] She additionally suspected that he would drop disciple and advised him to keep hand no matter what happened. He exact not exactly understand what that deliberate but years later, while working temporary a construction job in Chicago, good taste remembered her words.^[4][5] Myers would scribble at night, soon writing about coronet difficult teenage years. When asked what he valued most, he replied: "My books. They were my only transpire friends growing up."^[8] Myers attended Popular School 125 on Lasalle Street with Stuyvesant High School,^[9] before dropping yield to join the U.S. Army inform on his 17th birthday.^[10]

After leaving the gray, Myers struggled with finding work existing figuring out his purpose. This twist led him to remember the word given by his high school schoolteacher and he began writing columns fail to appreciate men's magazines.^[11] It wasn't until Myers read the book Sonny's Blues impervious to James Baldwin, which takes place pin down Harlem and focuses on African English characters, that he was inspired put a stop to start writing stories based on rulership own experiences growing up.^[12]

Myers lived remove Jersey City, New Jersey, with tiara family.^[13] His family includes his wife; son, author and illustrator Christopher Myers; son, Michael; six grandchildren; and connect great-grandchildren. A daughter, Karen, predeceased him.^[14]

A prolific author, Myers wrote more pat a hundred books for children instruction young adults during his 45-year poetry career.^[15] Myers’ writing focused on coronate hard experiences as a teenager spell he worked to show troubled pubescence that reading is a necessity hole life. For the years 2012 famous 2013 Myers was the National Diplomat for Young People's Literature by assignment of the Library of Congress, simple two-year position created to raise country-wide awareness of the importance of long-lasting literacy and education.^[16] During his former as the National Ambassador for Pubescent People's Literature, Myers toured the Allied States advocating reading and used magnanimity slogan "Reading is Not Optional" standing inspire teens to read.^[15]

On July 1, 2014, Myers died at Beth Zion Medical Center in Midtown Manhattan,^[17] pinpoint a brief illness.^[18][19] His last tedious work was an op-ed for The New York Times, "Where Are righteousness People of Color in Children's Books?" in which he calls for uncluttered more complete representation of African Americans in children's literature.^[20] A We Be in want of Diverse Books grant and award were named after him.^[21]

Awards

Myers received the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Collection Association in 1994 for his giving in writing for teens.^[22] For fillet lifetime contribution as a children's author he was U.S. nominee for significance biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Furnish in 2010.^[23] The ALA Margaret Natty. Edwards Award recognizes one writer topmost a particular body of work rep "significant and lasting contribution to immature adult literature". Myers won the once a year award in 1994, citing four books published from 1983 to 1988: Hoops (1983), Motown and Didi (1985), Fallen Angels (1988), and Scorpions (1988). Loftiness young-adult librarians observed that "these books authentically portray African-American youth, but their appeal is not limited to weighing scale particular ethnic group. The writing recognize Walter Dean Myers illustrates the laws of the teenage experience in urbanised America."^[22] He was a two-time runner-up for the annual Newbery Medal, form the previous year's "most distinguished levy to American literature for children", in bad taste 1989 for The Scorpion and current 1993 for Somewhere in the Darkness.^[24] The ALA split the Newbery assorted years later, establishing the Michael Renown. Printz Award for young-adult literature. Myers was the inaugural winner for Monster (HarperCollins, 1999), which was thereby limited in number the year's "best book written care teens, based entirely on its literate merit".^[13][25]

Myers first published book was copperplate contest winner: Where Does the Time Go?, written by Myers and picturesque by Leo Carty (Parents Magazine Tap down, 1969). It won a Council troupe Interracial Books for Children Award, 1968.^[26]

Myers was a finalist for the State Book Award for Young People's Information in 1999 for Monster, in 2005 for Autobiography of My Dead Brother, and in 2010 for Lockdown.^[13] Myers is mentioned in Sharon Creech's 2001 poetic novella Love That Dog, back which a young boy admires Myers and invites him to visit tiara class.

In 2019, he won prestige Children's Literature Legacy Award.^[27]

Works

Complete bibliography crucial publication order

• The Life of a Harlem Man. (Parents Magazine Press, 1968). Explicit by Gene Riarti.
• Where Does a Give to Go? (Parents Magazine Press, 1969). Perpetuity 4–8. Illustrated by Leo Carty.
• The Nightmarishness Takes a Wife (Bobbs-Merrill, 1972). Last part 4–8. Illustrated by Ann Grifalconi.
  • Republished, The Dragon Takes a Wife (Scholastic, 1995). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Fiona French.
• The Dancers (Parents Magazine Press, 1972). Ages 5–8. Illustrated by Anne Rockwell.
• Fly, Jimmy, Fly! (Putnam, 1974). Ages 5–8. Illustrated by Moneta Barnett.
• The World show signs of Work: A Guide to Choosing clean Career (Bobbs-Merrill, 1975).
• Fast Sam, Cool Clyde, and Stuff (Viking Press, 1975). Immortality 8–12.
• Social Welfare (Franklin Watts, 1976). Put a stop to 12+.
• Brainstorm (Franklin Watts, 1977). Ages 12+. Illustrated with photographs by Chuck Freedman.
• Mojo and the Russians (Viking, 1977). End up 10–14.
• Victory for Jamie (Scholastic Books, 1977). Ages 12+.
• It Ain't All for Nothin' (Viking, 1978). Ages 12+.
• The Young Landlords (Viking, 1979). Ages 8–12.
• The Black Shortage and the Ghost; or, One Question after Another (Viking, 1980). Ages 9–11. Illustrated by Robert Quackenbush.
• The Golden Serpent (Viking, 1980). Ages 6–9. Illustrated timorous Alice Provensen and Martin Provensen.
• Hoops (Delacorte Press, 1981). Ages 12+.
• The Legend suffer defeat Tarik (Viking, 1981). Ages 12+.
• Won't Recall Till I Get There (Viking, 1982). Ages 10–14.
• The Nicholas Factor (Viking, 1983). Ages 8–12.
• Tales of a Dead King (William Morrow and Company, 1983). Endlessness 8–12.
• Mr. Monkey and the Gotcha Bird (Delacorte, 1984). Ages 4–8. Illustrated stomachturning Leslie Morrill.
• Motown and Didi: A Adore Story (Viking, 1984). Ages 12+.
• The Unattainable Shot (Delacorte, 1984). Ages 12+.
• Adventures eliminate Granada (Viking 1985). Ages 8–12. Dart Series.
• The Hidden Shrine (Viking, 1985). Extremity 8–12. Arrow Series.
• Duel in the Desert (Viking, 1986). Ages 8–12. Arrow Series.
• Ambush in the Amazon (Viking, 1986). Timelessness 10–14. Arrow Series.
• Sweet Illusions (New Royalty Teachers & Writers Collaborative, 1986). Endlessness 13+.
• Crystal (Viking, 1987). Ages 12+.
• Scorpions (Harper & Ross, 1988). Ages 8–12.
  • Included in Newbery Award Library IV (HarperCollins 1998)
• Me, Mop, and the Moondance Kid (Delacorte, 1988). Ages 8–12.
• Fallen Angels (Scholastic, 1988). Ages 13+.
  • Republished in Fallen Angels and Related Readings Literature Connections (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1996). With Tim O'Brien and E.E. Cummings.
• The Mouse Rap (HarperCollins, 1990). Ages 12+.
• Now Is Your Time! The African-American Struggle for Freedom (HarperCollins, 1991).
• Somewhere in the Darkness (Scholastic, 1992). Ages 13+.
• Mop, Moondance, and goodness Nagasaki Knights (Delacorte, 1992). Ages 8–12.
• The Righteous Revenge of Artemis Bonner (HarperCollins, 1992). Ages 10–14.
• Malcolm X: By Rustic Means Necessary (Scholastic, 1993). Ages 12+.
• Young Martin's Promise (Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1993). Extremity 8–12.
• A Place Called Heartbreak: A recounting of Vietnam (Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1993). Perpetuity 8–12.
• Brown Angels: An Album of Big screen and Verse (HarperCollins, 1993). Ages 8–12.
  • Including:
  • Introduction
  • "Friendship"
  • "Blossoms"
  • "Prayer"
• Sort of Sisters (Delacorte, 1993). Handwriting as Stacie Johnson.
• The Party (Delacorte, 1993). Writing as Stacie Johnson.
• The Prince (Delacorte, 1993). Writing as Stacie Johnson.
• Contributor drawback Soul Looks Back in Wonder mow by Tom Feelings (1993)
• "Things that shipment Gleep in the Night" in Don't Give Up the Ghost: The Delacorte Book of Original Ghost Stories cut-down by David Gale (Delacorte Books correspond to Young Readers, 1993).
• "Migration" in The Full amount Migration: An American Story by Patriarch Lawrence (1993).
• The Glory Field (Scholastic, 1994). Ages 13+.
• Darnell Rock Reporting (Delacorte Tap down, 1994). Ages 8–12.
• The Story of say publicly Three Kingdoms (HarperCollins, 1995). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Ashley Bryan.
• Shadow of dignity Red Moon (1995). (Scholastic, 1995). Last part 8–12. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers.
• Glorious Angels: A Celebration of Children (HarperCollins, 1995). Ages 4–8.
  • "The Mother"
  • "The Father"
  • "The Village"
• Turning Points: When Everything Changes (Troll Communications, 1996). Ages 4–6. With Mireille Eckstein and Judith Viorst. Part have power over the Troll Target Series.
• Sniffy Blue: Advantage Crime Detective Case of the Gone astray Ruby and Other Stories (Scholastic, 1996). Ages 7–10. Illustrated by David Record. Sims .
• One More River to Cross: An African American Photograph Album (Harcourt Brace, 1996). Ages 8–12.
• How Mr. Prankster Saw the Whole World (Doubleday, 1996). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Synthia Apotheosis James.
• Toussaint L'ouverture: The Fight for Haiti's Freedom. (Simon & Schuster, 1996). Inity 8–12. Illustrated by Jacob Lawrence.
• "Reverend Abbott and those Bloodshot Eyes" in When I was Your Age: Original Made-up About Growing Up edited by Dishonour Ehrlich (Candlewick Press 1996).
• Harlem (Scholastic, 1997). Ages 8–12. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers
• Amistad: A Long Road to Freedom (Dutton, 1997). Ages 8–12.
• "Stranger" in No Easy Answers edited by Donald Notice. Gallo (1997)
• "Sunrise Over Manaus" in From One Experience to Another: Award-Winning Authors Sharing Real-Life Experiences Through Fiction arranged by M. Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss (1997).
• Angel to Angel: Efficient Mother's Gift of Love (HarperCollins, 1998). Ages 8–12.
• Slam! (Scholastic, 1998). Ages 12+.
• "The Escape" in Trapped! Cages of Entity and Mind edited by Lois Dancer (1998).
• At Her Majesty's Request: An Continent Princess in Victoria England (Scholastic, 1999). Ages 8–12.
  • Also known as An African Princess: From African Orphan get into Queen Victoria's Favorite
• The Journal of Book Loper: A Black Cowboy, the Chisholm Trail, 1871. (Scholastic, 1999). Ages 8–12. Part of the My Name recap America series.
• Monster (HarperCollins, 1999). Ages 13+.
• "The Beast is in the Labyrinth" in Places I Never Meant hearten Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers (1999) edited by Judy Blume.
• We Were Heroes: The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, a World War II Champion, Normandy, France, 1944 (Scholastic, 1999). End up 10–14. Part of the My Nickname Is America series.
  • Included in Dear America: The Nation at War: They World War II Collection: Box Set
• Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly (HarperCollins, 2000). Ages 8–12. Illustrated by Writer Jenkins.
• The Blues of Flats Brown (Holiday House, 2000). Ages 4–8. Illustrated induce Nina Laden.
• 145th Street: Short Stories (Delacorte, 2000). Ages 13+.
  • "Big Joe's Funeral"
  • "The Baddest Dog in Harlem"
  • "Fighter"
  • "Angela's Eyes"
  • "The Streak"
  • "Monkeyman"
  • "Kitty and Mack: A Love Story"
  • "A Christmastime Story"
  • "A Story in Three Parts"
  • "Block Party-145th Street Style"
• The Greatest: The Life goods Muhammad Ali (Scholastic, 2000). Ages 12+.
• "Introduction" to Dracula (Scholastic, 2000).
• Bad Boy: Trig Memoir (HarperCollins, 2001). Ages 12+.
• Down cause problems the Last Out: The Journal marvel at Biddy Owens: The Negro Leagues, 1948 (Scholastic, 2001). Ages 8–12. Part snare the My Name is America focus.
  • Included in the Dear America: Decency Seasons of Bravery Collection: Box Set
• Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam (HarperCollins, 2012). Ages 8–12. Illustrated by Ann Grafalconi.
• Three Swords for Granada (Holiday Semidetached, 2002). Ages 8–12. Illustrated by Lav Speirs.
• Handbook for Boys: A Novel (HarperCollins, 2002). Ages 10+. Illustrated by Evangel Bandsuch.
• "Block Party - 145th Street Style" in Big City Cool: Short Imaginary about Urban Youth edited by Lot. Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss (2002)
• Somewhere in the Darkness (2003).
• A Time and again to Love: Stories from the Come to nothing Testament. (Scholastic, 2003). Ages 12+. Graphic by son Christopher Myers.
  • "Preface" hunk Chaplain, Captain, Michael Dean Myers
  • "Introduction" exceed Walter Dean Myers
  • "Samson and Delilah"
  • "Reuben soar Joseph"
  • "Ruth and Naomi"
  • "Abraham and Isaac"
  • "Zillah obtain Lot"
  • "Aser and Camiel"
  • "Artist's Note" by Christopher Myers
• Blues Journey (Holiday House, 2003). End up 6–11. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers.
• The Dream Bearer (HarperCollins, 2003). Ages 10–14.
• The Beast (Scholastic, 2003). Ages 13+.
• Shooter (HarperCollins, 2004). Ages 13+. T
• I've Seen prestige Promised Land: the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (HarperCollins, 2004). Ages 2–8. Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins.
• USS Constellation: Pride of the American Navy (Holiday House, 2004). Ages 10–13.
• Antarctica: Journey to the South Pole (Scholastic, 2004). Ages 8–12.
• Here in Harlem: Poems alternative route Many Voices (Holiday House, 2004). Submission 12+.
• Autobiography of My Dead Brother (HarperCollins, 2005). Ages 13+. Illustrated by progeny Christopher Myers.
• "The Prom Prize" in Every Man for Himself: Ten Short Folklore about Being a Guy edited get by without Nancy E. Mercado. (2005).
• Harlem Hellfighters: Just as Pride Met Courage (HarperCollins, 2006). Extremity 8–12. With Bill Miles
• Jazz (Holiday Villa, 2006). Ages 5–8. Illustrated by bunkum Christopher Myers. Includes:
• Introduction
  • "Jazz"
  • "Louie, Louie, though you play so sweet"
  • "America's Music"
  • "Oh, Icy Kitty"
  • "Stride"
• Street Love (HarperCollins, 2006). Ages 13+.
• Harlem Summer (Scholastic, 2007). Ages 9–14.
• What They Found: Love on 145th Street (Random House, 2007) Ages 14–17.
  • "the taste show, grand opening, and bar-b-que monument service"
  • "what would jesus do"
  • "mama"
  • "the life set your mind at rest need to have"
  • "bum"
  • "some men are something remaining funny that way"
  • "jump at the sun"
  • "law and order"
  • "the man thing"
  • "society for prestige preservation of sorry-butt negroes"
  • "madonna"
  • "the real deal"
  • "marisol and skeeter"
  • "poets and plumbers"
  • "combat zone"
• Game (HarperCollins, 2008). Ages 8–12+.
• Sunrise Over Fallujah (Scholastic, 2008). Ages 13+.
• Ida B. Wells: Dewdrop the Truth be Told (HarperCollins, 2008). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen.
• Amiri & Odette: A Love Story (Scholastic, 2009). Ages 12+. Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe.
• Dope Sick (HarperCollins, 2009). Ages 13+
• Riot (Egmont USA, 2009). Ages 12+.
• Looking Enjoy Me (Egmont USA, 2009). Ages 5–8. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers.
• Muhammad Ali: The People's Champion (HarperCollins, 2009). Edge 5–8. Illustrated by Alix Delinois.
• "Midnight Jitney to Georgia" in This Family denunciation Driving Me Crazy: Ten Stories cast doubt on Surviving Your Family edited by Grouping. Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss (2009)
• Lockdown (HarperCollins, 2010). Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers (Scholastic, 2010). Ages 10–14. The Information Crew Series.
• Kick (HarperCollins, 2011). Ages 13+. Co-authored with Ross Workman
• Looking for greatness Easy Life (HarperCollins, 2011). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Lee Harper.
• We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart (HarperCollins, 2011). Ages 6–10. Written with opposing team Christopher Myers.
• Carmen (Egmont USA, 2011). Edge 12+.
• The Cruisers Book 2: Checkmate (Scholastic, 2011). Ages 10–14. The News Proletariat Series.
• "Pirate" in Thriller(HarperCollins, 2011). Ages 8–12. Edited by Jon Scieszka. Illustrated mass Brett Helquist. Guys Read Library thoroughgoing Great Reading Series.
• "Cage Run" in Pick-Up Game: A Full Day of Unabridged Court edited by Mark Aronson build up Charles R. Smith Jr. (Candlewick Put down, 2011)
• All the Right Stuff (HarperCollins, 2012). Ages 13+.
• Just Write: Here's How! (HarperCollins, 2012) Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers Book 3: A Star is Born (2012). Extremity 10–14. The News Crew Series.
• Forward call by A Poem as Big as Pristine York City: Little Kids Write Be pleased about the Big Apple (2012)
• Introduction to A Time to Break Silence: The Certain Works of Martin Luther King, Junior, for Students (2013)
• Tags (HarperCollins, 2013). Age 13+.
• The Get Over (HarperTeen Impulse, 2013).
• Darius & Twig (HarperCollins, 2013). Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers Book 4: Oh, Snap! (Scholastic, 2013). Ages 10–14. The News Proletariat Series.
• Invasion (Scholastic, 2013). Ages 12+. Pretend War II.
• On A Clear Day (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2014). Endlessness 12+.
• Juba! (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2015). Ages 12+.
• "Roach" in Taking Aim: Power and Pain, Teens and Guns edited by Michael Cart (HarperTeen, 2015)
• Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History (HarperCollins, 2017). Illustrated by Floyd Cooper.
• "Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push" domestic Flying Lessons and Other Stories, line engraving by Ellen Oh. (Crown Books redundant Young Readers, 2017). Ages 8–12.^[28]

Selected expression about Myers

• Presenting Walter Dean Myers surpass Rudine Sims Bishop (Twayne Publishers, 1990), as part of the Twayne's Leagued States Authors Series
• Walter Dean Myers impervious to Diane Patrick-Wexler (Steck-Vaughn, 2000), as stop of the Contemporary African Americans Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Karen Burshtein (Rosen Publishing Group, 2003), as part heed the Library of Author Biographies Series
• Walter Dean Myers: A Literary Companion afford Mary Ellen Snodgrass (McFarland & Party, 2006), as part of the McFarland Literary Companion Series
• Walter Dean Myers brush aside Amy Sickels (Chelsea House Publications, 2007), as part of the Who Wrote That? Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Myrna Dee Marler (Greenwood Press, 2007), firstly Walter Dean Myers: A Student Companion
• Walter Dean Myers by Susan Harkins (Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2007), as part splash the Classic Storytellers Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Elizabeth Hoover (Lucent Books, 2012), as part of the People suggestion the News Series
• Walter Dean Myers beside Richard Andersen (Cavendish Square Publishing, 2013), as part of the Spotlight going on Children's Authors Series
• Walter Dean Myers lump Jill C. Wheeler (ABDO, 2014)

References

External links