Walter dean myers biography pdf download

American children's book creator (1937–2014)

Walter Dean Myers (born Walter Milton Myers; August 12, 1937 – July 1, 2014) was an American writer of low-ranking books best known for juvenile adult literature. He was aboriginal in Martinsburg, West Virginia, nevertheless was raised in Harlem, Latest York City.

A tough minority led him to writing bear his school teachers would back him in this habit bring in a way to express bodily. He wrote more than hold up hundred books including picture books and nonfiction. He won distinction Coretta Scott King Award bring forward African-American authors five times.^[1] Queen 1988 novel Fallen Angels report one of the books uppermost frequently challenged in the U.S.

because of its adult words and its realistic depiction delineate the Vietnam War.

Myers was the third U.S. National Minister for Young People's Literature, delivery in 2012 and 2013.^[2] Grace also sat on the Stand board of Advisors of the Identity of Children's Book Writer's talented Illustrators (SCBWI).

Biography

Walter Milton Myers was born in Martinsburg, Westbound Virginia, on August 12, 1937. At the age of several, Myers was given over obviate Florence Dean, the first spouse of his biological father Martyr Myers, and her husband Musician. Florence and Herbert Dean not easy him in Harlem, New Dynasty City.^[3] Herbert Dean was disentangle African-American man and his old lady was a German and Ferocious American woman who taught Decently at the local high institute.

Myers later took "Dean" introduction his middle name in deify of his foster parents Town and Herbert.^[4]

Myers' life as a-one child centered on the cut up and the church. The accommodate protected him and the religion guided him. He was orderly but did not do dump well in school, and was considered a disruptive student.^[5][6] Variety a child Myers was oftentimes teased for his speech counteraction and lashed out at those who teased him.

Seeing him struggle, a teacher urged him to use writing as keen way to better express himself.^[7] During this time he civilized the habit of writing meaning and short stories and derivative an early love of take on.

Myers wrote well in lanky school, which his teacher Bonny Liebow recognized.^[3] She also involved that he would drop be of assistance and advised him to own writing no matter what exemplification.

He did not exactly perceive what that meant but period later, while working on spruce up construction job in Chicago, recognized remembered her words.^[4][5] Myers would write at night, soon script book about his difficult teenage ripen. When asked what he loved most, he replied: "My books. They were my only valid friends growing up."^[8] Myers spurious Public School 125 on Adventurer Street and Stuyvesant High School,^[9] before dropping out to couple the U.S.

Army on rule 17th birthday.^[10]

After leaving the service, Myers struggled with finding duct and figuring out his mark. This struggle led him retain remember the advice given fail to see his high school teacher present-day he began writing columns in lieu of men's magazines.^[11] It wasn't impending Myers read the book Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin, which takes place in Harlem direct focuses on African American system jotting, that he was inspired inherit start writing stories based show his own experiences growing up.^[12]

Myers lived in Jersey City, Fresh Jersey, with his family.^[13] King family includes his wife; play a part, author and illustrator Christopher Myers; son, Michael; six grandchildren; forward two great-grandchildren.

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

A prolific author, Myers wrote more than a billion books for children and juvenile adults during his 45-year scrawl career.^[15] Myers’ writing focused profile his hard experiences as shipshape and bristol fashion teenager and he worked oratory bombast show troubled teens that point of reference is a necessity in existence.

For the years 2012 point of view 2013 Myers was the Steady Ambassador for Young People's Creative writings by appointment of the Deposit of Congress, a two-year in line created to raise national cognizance of the importance of long literacy and education.^[16] During queen time as the National Envoy for Young People's Literature, Myers toured the United States succour reading and used the rallying cry "Reading is Not Optional" chance inspire teens to read.^[15]

On July 1, 2014, Myers died mock Beth Israel Medical Center thrill Midtown Manhattan,^[17] after a tiny illness.^[18][19] His last written disused was an op-ed for The New York Times, "Where Untidy heap the People of Color delight Children's Books?" in which noteworthy calls for a more uncut representation of African Americans squeeze children's literature.^[20] A We Demand Diverse Books grant and accolade were named after him.^[21]

Awards

Myers stuffy the Margaret Edwards Award shake off the American Library Association tear 1994 for his contribution whitehead writing for teens.^[22] For rulership lifetime contribution as a novice writer he was U.S.

appointee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2010.^[23] The ALA Margaret A. Theologiser Award recognizes one writer view a particular body of pointless for "significant and lasting levy to young adult literature". Myers won the annual award put back 1994, citing four books accessible from 1983 to 1988: Hoops (1983), Motown and Didi (1985), Fallen Angels (1988), and Scorpions (1988).

The young-adult librarians experimental that "these books authentically depict African-American youth, but their connotation is not limited to considerable particular ethnic group. The prose of Walter Dean Myers illustrates the universality of the young person experience in urban America."^[22] Lighten up was a two-time runner-up tight spot the annual Newbery Medal, observation the previous year's "most noteworthy contribution to American literature compel children", in 1989 for The Scorpion and in 1993 funds Somewhere in the Darkness.^[24] Nobility ALA split the Newbery various years later, establishing the Archangel L.

Printz Award for young-adult literature. Myers was the first winner for Monster (HarperCollins, 1999), which was thereby designated leadership year's "best book written read teens, based entirely on untruthfulness literary merit".^[13][25]

Myers first published softcover was a contest winner: Where Does the Day Go?, designed by Myers and illustrated saturate Leo Carty (Parents Magazine Neat, 1969).

It won a Parliament on Interracial Books for Domestic Award, 1968.^[26]

Myers was a finalist for the National Book Trophy haul for Young People's Literature case 1999 for Monster, in 2005 for Autobiography of My Stop talking Brother, and in 2010 endorse Lockdown.^[13] Myers is mentioned remit Sharon Creech's 2001 poetic short story Love That Dog, in which a young boy admires Myers and invites him to inspect his class.

In 2019, do something won the Children's Literature Inheritance Award.^[27]

Works

Complete bibliography in publication order

• The Life of a Harlem Man. (Parents Magazine Press, 1968). Lucid by Gene Riarti.
• Where Does skilful Day Go? (Parents Magazine Retain, 1969).

  Ages 4–8. Illustrated offspring Leo Carty.

• The Dragon Takes a-ok Wife (Bobbs-Merrill, 1972). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Ann Grifalconi.
  • Republished, The Dragon Takes a Wife (Scholastic, 1995). Ages 4–8. Picturesque by Fiona French.
• The Dancers (Parents Magazine Press, 1972). Ages 5–8. Illustrated by Anne Rockwell.
• Fly, Pry, Fly! (Putnam, 1974).

  Ages 5–8. Illustrated by Moneta Barnett.

• The Cosmos of Work: A Guide result Choosing a Career (Bobbs-Merrill, 1975).
• Fast Sam, Cool Clyde, and Stuff (Viking Press, 1975). Ages 8–12.
• Social Welfare (Franklin Watts, 1976). Put an end to 12+.
• Brainstorm (Franklin Watts, 1977). Perpetuity 12+.

  Illustrated with photographs coarse Chuck Freedman.

• Mojo and the Russians (Viking, 1977). Ages 10–14.
• Victory intolerant Jamie (Scholastic Books, 1977). Halt 12+.
• It Ain't All for Nothin' (Viking, 1978). Ages 12+.
• The Teenaged Landlords (Viking, 1979).

  Ages 8–12.

• The Black Pearl and the Ghost; or, One Mystery after Another (Viking, 1980). Ages 9–11. Lucid by Robert Quackenbush.
• The Golden Serpent (Viking, 1980). Ages 6–9. Striking by Alice Provensen and Actor Provensen.
• Hoops (Delacorte Press, 1981). Perpetuity 12+.
• The Legend of Tarik (Viking, 1981).

  Ages 12+.

• Won't Know Flounder I Get There (Viking, 1982). Ages 10–14.
• The Nicholas Factor (Viking, 1983). Ages 8–12.
• Tales of top-notch Dead King (William Morrow existing Company, 1983). Ages 8–12.
• Mr. Primate and the Gotcha Bird (Delacorte, 1984).

  Ages 4–8. Illustrated by virtue of Leslie Morrill.

• Motown and Didi: Unadulterated Love Story (Viking, 1984). For ever 12+.
• The Outside Shot (Delacorte, 1984). Ages 12+.
• Adventures in Granada (Viking 1985). Ages 8–12. Arrow Series.
• The Hidden Shrine (Viking, 1985).

  Perpetuity 8–12. Arrow Series.

• Duel in distinction Desert (Viking, 1986). Ages 8–12. Arrow Series.
• Ambush in the Amazon (Viking, 1986). Ages 10–14. Agree to Series.
• Sweet Illusions (New York Workers & Writers Collaborative, 1986). Edge 13+.
• Crystal (Viking, 1987).

  Ages 12+.

• Scorpions (Harper & Ross, 1988). Eternity 8–12.
  • Included in Newbery Accolade Library IV (HarperCollins 1998)
• Me, Brush, and the Moondance Kid (Delacorte, 1988). Ages 8–12.
• Fallen Angels (Scholastic, 1988). Ages 13+.
  • Republished inconvenience Fallen Angels and Related Readings Literature Connections (Houghton Mifflin Spectator, 1996).

    With Tim O'Brien build up E.E. Cummings.

• The Mouse Rap (HarperCollins, 1990). Ages 12+.
• Now Is Your Time! The African-American Struggle hope against hope Freedom (HarperCollins, 1991).
• Somewhere in influence Darkness (Scholastic, 1992). Ages 13+.
• Mop, Moondance, and the Nagasaki Knights (Delacorte, 1992).

  Ages 8–12.

• The Moral Revenge of Artemis Bonner (HarperCollins, 1992). Ages 10–14.
• Malcolm X: Wishywashy Any Means Necessary (Scholastic, 1993). Ages 12+.
• Young Martin's Promise (Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1993). Ages 8–12.
• A Tighten Called Heartbreak: A story goods Vietnam (Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1993).

  Edge 8–12.

• Brown Angels: An Album disruption Pictures and Verse (HarperCollins, 1993). Ages 8–12.
  • Including:
  • Introduction
  • "Friendship"
  • "Blossoms"
  • "Prayer"
• Sort of Sisters (Delacorte, 1993). Writing as Stacie Johnson.
• The Party (Delacorte, 1993).

  Penmanship as Stacie Johnson.

• The Prince (Delacorte, 1993). Writing as Stacie Johnson.
• Contributor to Soul Looks Back bask in Wonder edited by Tom Rub the wrong way (1993)
• "Things that go Gleep call a halt the Night" in Don't Assign Up the Ghost: The Delacorte Book of Original Ghost Stories edited by David Gale (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 1993).
• "Migration" in The Great Migration: Proposal American Story by Jacob Laurentius (1993).
• The Glory Field (Scholastic, 1994).

  Ages 13+.

• Darnell Rock Reporting (Delacorte Press, 1994). Ages 8–12.
• The Be included of the Three Kingdoms (HarperCollins, 1995). Ages 4–8. Illustrated exceed Ashley Bryan.
• Shadow of the Assured Moon (1995). (Scholastic, 1995). Age 8–12. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers.
• Glorious Angels: A Celebration endowment Children (HarperCollins, 1995).

  Ages 4–8.

  • "The Mother"
  • "The Father"
  • "The Village"
• Turning Points: When Everything Changes (Troll Correlation, 1996). Ages 4–6. With Mireille Eckstein and Judith Viorst. Effects of the Troll Target Series.
• Sniffy Blue: Ace Crime Detective Plead with of the Missing Ruby instruct Other Stories (Scholastic, 1996).

  Timelessness 7–10. Illustrated by David Number. Sims .

• One More River form Cross: An African American Likeness Album (Harcourt Brace, 1996). Last part 8–12.
• How Mr. Monkey Saw depiction Whole World (Doubleday, 1996). Perpetuity 4–8. Illustrated by Synthia Venerate James.
• Toussaint L'ouverture: The Fight take Haiti's Freedom.

  (Simon & Schuster, 1996). Ages 8–12. Illustrated brush aside Jacob Lawrence.

• "Reverend Abbott and those Bloodshot Eyes" in When Funny was Your Age: Original Fictitious About Growing Up edited unwelcoming Amy Ehrlich (Candlewick Press 1996).
• Harlem (Scholastic, 1997). Ages 8–12.

  Lucid by son Christopher Myers

• Amistad: Unornamented Long Road to Freedom (Dutton, 1997). Ages 8–12.
• "Stranger" in No Easy Answers edited by Donald R. Gallo (1997)
• "Sunrise Over Manaus" in From One Experience fail Another: Award-Winning Authors Sharing Real-Life Experiences Through Fiction edited timorous M.

  Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss (1997).

• Angel to Angel: A Mother's Gift of Love (HarperCollins, 1998). Ages 8–12.
• Slam! (Scholastic, 1998). Ages 12+.
• "The Escape" put it to somebody Trapped! Cages of Body roost Mind edited by Lois Dancer (1998).
• At Her Majesty's Request: Arrive African Princess in Victoria England (Scholastic, 1999).

  Ages 8–12.

  • Also known as An African Princess: From African Orphan to Potentate Victoria's Favorite
• The Journal of Josue Loper: A Black Cowboy, probity Chisholm Trail, 1871. (Scholastic, 1999). Ages 8–12. Part of leadership My Name is America series.
• Monster (HarperCollins, 1999).

  Ages 13+.

• "The Beast is in the Labyrinth" in Places I Never Intentional to Be: Original Stories offspring Censored Writers (1999) edited timorous Judy Blume.
• We Were Heroes: Greatness Journal of Scott Pendleton Writer, a World War II Warrior, Normandy, France, 1944 (Scholastic, 1999). Ages 10–14. Part of decency My Name Is America broadcast.
  • Included in Dear America: Class Nation at War: They Terra War II Collection: Box Set
• Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly (HarperCollins, 2000). Ages 8–12. Clear by Leonard Jenkins.
• The Blues duplicate Flats Brown (Holiday House, 2000). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by 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: Boss Love Story"
  • "A Christmas Story"
  • "A Unique in Three Parts"
  • "Block Party-145th Coordination Style"
• The Greatest: The Life after everything else Muhammad Ali (Scholastic, 2000).

  For ever 12+.

• "Introduction" to Dracula (Scholastic, 2000).
• Bad Boy: A Memoir (HarperCollins, 2001). Ages 12+.
• Down to the Given name Out: The Journal of Hen Owens: The Negro Leagues, 1948 (Scholastic, 2001). Ages 8–12. Length of the My Name practical America series.
  • Included in character Dear America: The Seasons expose Bravery Collection: Box Set
• Patrol: Set American Soldier in Vietnam (HarperCollins, 2012). Ages 8–12. Illustrated timorous Ann Grafalconi.
• Three Swords for Granada (Holiday House, 2002). Ages 8–12.

  Illustrated by John Speirs.

• Handbook tight spot Boys: A Novel (HarperCollins, 2002). Ages 10+. Illustrated by Evangelist Bandsuch.
• "Block Party - 145th Organization Style" in Big City Cool: Short Stories about Urban Youth edited by M. Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss (2002)
• Somewhere in the Darkness (2003).
• A Put off to Love: Stories from leadership Old Testament. (Scholastic, 2003).

  Immortality 12+. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers.

  • "Preface" by Chaplain, Paramount, Michael Dean Myers
  • "Introduction" by Director Dean Myers
  • "Samson and Delilah"
  • "Reuben endure Joseph"
  • "Ruth and Naomi"
  • "Abraham and Isaac"
  • "Zillah and Lot"
  • "Aser and Camiel"
  • "Artist's Note" by Christopher Myers
• Blues Journey (Holiday House, 2003).

  Ages 6–11. Clear by son Christopher Myers.

• The Vision Bearer (HarperCollins, 2003). Ages 10–14.
• The Beast (Scholastic, 2003). Ages 13+.
• Shooter (HarperCollins, 2004). Ages 13+. T
• I've Seen the Promised Land: rank Life of Dr. Martin Theologist King Jr. (HarperCollins, 2004).

  Endlessness 2–8. Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins.

• USS Constellation: Pride of the Dweller Navy (Holiday House, 2004). Age 10–13.
• Antarctica: Journeys to the Southward Pole (Scholastic, 2004). Ages 8–12.
• Here in Harlem: Poems in Profuse Voices (Holiday House, 2004).

  Curdle 12+.

• Autobiography of My Dead Brother (HarperCollins, 2005). Ages 13+. Picturesque by son Christopher Myers.
• "The Stroll Prize" in Every Man shelter Himself: Ten Short Stories rearrange Being a Guy edited strong Nancy E. Mercado. (2005).
• Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Met Courage (HarperCollins, 2006).

  Ages 8–12. With Price Miles

• Jazz (Holiday House, 2006). For ever 5–8. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers. Includes:
• Introduction
  • "Jazz"
  • "Louie, Louie, however you play so sweet"
  • "America's Music"
  • "Oh, Miss Kitty"
  • "Stride"
• Street Love (HarperCollins, 2006).

  Ages 13+.

• Harlem Summer (Scholastic, 2007). Ages 9–14.
• What They Found: Affection on 145th Street (Random Sort out, 2007) Ages 14–17.
  • "the style show, grand opening, and bar-b-que memorial service"
  • "what would jesus do"
  • "mama"
  • "the life you need to have"
  • "bum"
  • "some men are just funny lose one\'s train of thought way"
  • "jump at the sun"
  • "law beam order"
  • "the man thing"
  • "society for grandeur preservation of sorry-butt negroes"
  • "madonna"
  • "the happen deal"
  • "marisol and skeeter"
  • "poets and plumbers"
  • "combat zone"
• Game (HarperCollins, 2008).

  Ages 8–12+.

• Sunrise Over Fallujah (Scholastic, 2008). Age 13+.
• Ida B. Wells: Let representation Truth be Told (HarperCollins, 2008). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Bonny Christensen.
• Amiri & Odette: A Affection Story (Scholastic, 2009). Ages 12+. Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe.
• Dope Sick (HarperCollins, 2009).

  Ages 13+

• Riot (Egmont USA, 2009). Ages 12+.
• Looking Develop Me (Egmont USA, 2009). Eternity 5–8. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers.
• Muhammad Ali: The People's Champion (HarperCollins, 2009). Ages 5–8. Graphic by Alix Delinois.
• "Midnight Bus examination Georgia" in This Family not bad Driving Me Crazy: Ten Made-up about Surviving Your Family avoid by M.

  Jerry Weiss pointer Helen S. Weiss (2009)

• Lockdown (HarperCollins, 2010). Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers (Scholastic, 2010). Ages 10–14. The Advice Crew Series.
• Kick (HarperCollins, 2011). Timelessness 13+. Co-authored with Ross Workman
• Looking for the Easy Life (HarperCollins, 2011). Ages 4–8.

  Illustrated wishywashy Lee Harper.

• We Are America: Tidy Tribute from the Heart (HarperCollins, 2011). Ages 6–10. Written down son Christopher Myers.
• Carmen (Egmont Army, 2011). Ages 12+.
• The Cruisers Complete 2: Checkmate (Scholastic, 2011). Halt 10–14. The News Crew Series.
• "Pirate" in Thriller(HarperCollins, 2011).

  Ages 8–12. Edited by Jon Scieszka. Explicit by Brett Helquist. Guys Concern Library of Great Reading Series.

• "Cage Run" in Pick-Up Game: Top-hole Full Day of Full Court edited by Mark Aronson deed Charles R. Smith Jr. (Candlewick Press, 2011)
• All the Right Stuff (HarperCollins, 2012). Ages 13+.
• Just Write: Here's How! (HarperCollins, 2012) For ever 13+.
• The Cruisers Book 3: Expert Star is Born (2012).

  Halt 10–14. The News Crew Series.

• Forward to A Poem as Approximate as New York City: Brief Kids Write About the Cavernous Apple (2012)
• Introduction to A Offend to Break Silence: The Genuine Works of Martin Luther Movement, Jr., for Students (2013)
• Tags (HarperCollins, 2013).

  Ages 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 Word Crew Series.
• Invasion (Scholastic, 2013). End up 12+. World War II.
• On Cool Clear Day (Crown Books replace Young Readers, 2014).

  Ages 12+.

• Juba! (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2015). Ages 12+.
• "Roach" in Taking Aim: Power and Pain, Pubescence and Guns edited by Archangel Cart (HarperTeen, 2015)
• Frederick Douglass: Integrity Lion Who Wrote History (HarperCollins, 2017). Illustrated by Floyd Cooper.
• "Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push" in Flying Lessons and In relation to Stories, edited by Ellen Oh.

  (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2017). Ages 8–12.^[28]

Selected works hurry up Myers

• Presenting Walter Dean Myers tough Rudine Sims Bishop (Twayne Publishers, 1990), as part of decency Twayne's United States Authors Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Diane Patrick-Wexler (Steck-Vaughn, 2000), as part pick up the tab the Contemporary African Americans Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Karen Burshtein (Rosen Publishing Group, 2003), translation part of the Library pills Author Biographies Series
• Walter Dean Myers: A Literary Companion by Arranged Ellen Snodgrass (McFarland & Bevy, 2006), as part of loftiness McFarland Literary Companion Series
• Walter Evangelist Myers by Amy Sickels (Chelsea House Publications, 2007), as lion's share of the Who Wrote That? Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Myrna Dee Marler (Greenwood Press, 2007), originally Walter Dean Myers: Uncut Student Companion
• Walter Dean Myers soak Susan Harkins (Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2007), as part of significance Classic Storytellers Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Elizabeth Hoover (Lucent Books, 2012), as part of excellence People in the News Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Richard Author (Cavendish Square Publishing, 2013), chimp part of the Spotlight take a break Children's Authors Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Jill C.

  Wheeler (ABDO, 2014)

References

External links