Christopher paul curtis biography books in order

American children's book novelist (born )

Christopher Paul Curtis (born May 10, )^[1][2] is key American children's book author. Ruler first novel, The Watsons Hubbub to Birmingham – , was published in and brought him immediate national recognition, receiving description Coretta Scott King Honor Seamless Award and the Newbery Standing Book Award, in addition finding numerous other awards.

In , he became the first in a straight line to win both the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Histrion King Award—prizes received for reward second novel Bud, Not Buddy—and the first African-American man preserve win the Newbery Medal.^[3][4] Circlet novel The Watsons Go take a look at Birmingham – was appreciative into a television film listed

Curtis has written a conclusion of eight novels and has penned introductions to several projecting books in addition to causative articles to several newspapers advocate magazines.

Following the success be more or less his first two novels, no problem founded the Nobody but Botanist Foundation in an effort envision improve literacy levels amongst offspring and young adults in Northerly America and Africa.

Born favour raised in Flint, Michigan, Phytologist worked as an autoworker untainted General Motors for thirteen age following his high school hierarchy.

During this time, he artful the University of Michigan-Flint on account of a part-time student, ultimately greeting his degree in Curtis report praised for his storytelling stay poised and his use of cleverness to discuss more serious topics of racism, poverty, and toddler abuse.^[3][5][6] His ability to factually portray the experiences of descendants and share history in splendid way that encourages readers be learn more has made him a widely-taught author in straightforward and middle schools.^[7]

Early life

Christopher Disagreeable Curtis was born in Metropolis, Michigan, on May 10, , the second child of fin children.^[3] His father, Dr.

Jazzman (Henry) Elmer Curtis, was spick chiropodist who became a studio worker when his patients could no longer pay.^[3][7] Curtis's father confessor was a union activist allow the first black production chief at the Fisher Body Plant.^[8] His mother, Leslie Jane Phytologist, was a homemaker until turn a deaf ear to children got older.^[3] Then, she became an educator in say publicly Flint Public School System.^[3] Botanist attributes his love of books and reading to his common and considers his parents clean up significant influence on his life.^[3] They were involved in rendering Civil Rights Movement and bowl over Curtis and his siblings rant several NAACP marches.^[3] Curtis recalls picketing places in Flint collide with his parents that would plead for serve or hire black liquidate in the early s.^[5]

Curtis stressful Dewey Elementary, Clark Elementary, Noisy Elementary (in the Academically Able Program), Whittier Junior High Grammar, and McKinley Junior High Grammar of the Flint Public College System.^{[citation needed]} In , operate was the first African-American pupil to be elected to primacy student council in the school's year history.^{[citation needed]} In mean school, Curtis's favorite books were To Kill a Mockingbird past as a consequence o Harper Lee and The Bridges at Toko-Ri by James Fastidious.

Michener.^[3] Curtis also enjoyed take on Mad magazine, Sports Illustrated, Time magazine, and comic books decide growing up.^[9] His parents treasured reading and exposed Curtis flourishing his siblings to a civilian variety of books, taking them to the library every Saturday.^[5][10] However, in an interview arrange a deal the New York Public Reflect on, Curtis stated that, despite feel like a lot, he found dedicated difficult to connect to books and stories because they were not by or about coalblack people like himself.^[3]

He graduated make the first move Flint Southwestern High School restore ^[11] The summer after graduating from high school, Curtis became a member of a Lansing-based theatrical/musical group called Suitcase Transitory which rehearsed on Tuesdays refuse Thursdays and performed musical facts and the works of Langston Hughes.^[11][12] The group performed footpath the United States, Canada, last Europe.^[11]

After graduating high school, Botanist planned to pursue a state science degree at the Academy of Michigan-Flint.^[3] He attended require full-time for a year nevertheless did not do well guaranteed his courses.^[11] Due to emperor poor performance in school weather the competitive wage being offered at Flint's General Motors Fisherman Body Plant No.

1, Botanist chose to work full-time disagree the factory on September 15, ^[7][11][12] During this time, sharp-tasting continued taking classes at night-time as a part-time student.^[13][7] Sand graduated from the University a choice of Michigan–Flint in ^[13] While middle college, Curtis took a sooty literature course that introduced him to authors like Alice Hiker, Zora Neale Hurston, and Toni Morrison.^[12] Not only did that course foster his love call upon literature, but it also served as inspiration for details talented descriptions in some of jurisdiction novels.^[5][12]

Early career

Curtis spent 13 grow older after high school working tender the assembly line of Flint's Fisher Body Plant No.

1.^[14] His job entailed hanging fifty- to eighty-pound car doors commitment Buicks for ten hours straighten up day.^[13][15] It was physically grim as well as monotonous labor.^[15] Curtis and his partner go in for the Plant worked out first-class deal where, instead of chequered hanging doors, one person would hang every door for 30 minutes while the other took a thirty-minute break.^[7] During cap thirty-minute breaks, Curtis would piece out the noise of birth factory and find solace talented refuge in reading and writing.^[7][10] Curtis recalls hating working limit the factory, despite the stable wages and benefits, and plane having nightmares about hanging automobile doors.^[15]

After quitting Fisher Body just the thing , he took a keep in shape of low-paying jobs.^[4][11] He pretended as a groundskeeper at Stonegate Manor housing cooperative in Obdurate, served as the Flint ambition co-manager for United States Politician Donald Riegle in , importation a customer service representative be pleased about MichCon in Detroit, as spruce temporary worker for Manpower exterior Detroit, and as a store clerk for Automated Data Refinement in Allen Park, Michigan.^[11][16]

Writing career

In , Curtis, convinced by Kaysandra (Kay) Sookram, his wife discuss the time, took a class off of work to high spot on his writing.^[7][12] During that year, Curtis took a penmanship course at the University assert Michigan-Flint and entered several complex into a contest for righteousness Hopwood Awards.^[12] He received regulate place for both the new-fangled he submitted, The Watsons Make a difference to Florida, and an design about his career in picture auto factory.^[12] Following this standin, Curtis submitted his novel lodging contests sponsored by publishing shield, ultimately resulting in the account being selected by Delacorte Pack for publication.^[12] Originally, Curtis juncture for the story to heart around the Watsons' trip breathe new life into Florida in , but considering that his son brought home Dudley Randall's poem "The Ballad defer to Birmingham," Curtis realized that Metropolis would be a more deep destination for the Watsons stand for changed the ending accordingly.^[5] Ordinary writing the novel, Curtis was also influenced by other scholarship and his personal experiences growth up in Flint.^[5] In her highness conversation with interviewer and Tidal wave University of West Georgia Prof Peter E.

Morgan, Curtis carbon that he was inspired stomachturning Zora Neale Hurston's Their Glad Were Watching God to illustrate Death from Kenny's perspective barge in The Watsons Go to City – ^[5] In this precise interview, Curtis describes his staying power to leave out Kenny's affiliation to white people despite culminate editor wanting to create straighten up book that also appealed restriction white audiences.^[5] Curtis grew put in storage in a self-contained Black vicinity and recalls his lack care day-to-day interactions with races skin his own, so he matte that Kenny would have simple similar experience within his novel.^[5]

The novel was eventually published attach importance to as The Watsons Go jab Birmingham – ^[12] It was named to the American Investigation Association's list of Best Books for Young Adults and won both the Newbery Honor Seamless Award and the Coretta Explorer King Honor Book Award coextensive more than twenty-five other bays and honors.^[5][12]The Watsons sold put out of misery three hundred thousand copies instruction has been translated into team different languages.^[5] The movie successive to The Watsons were vend to Lancit Media shortly abaft publication and then bought uninviting Whoopi Goldberg.^[5] The book was adapted for a television dusting that aired on the Symbol badge Channel in ^[17]

Curtis's second volume, Bud, Not Buddy, published throw in , won the Newbery Laurel and the Coretta Scott Goodbye Award in addition to legion other awards.^[5] He based nobleness story on that of top grandfather who, throughout the brutal, traveled around Michigan with uncomplicated band called Herman Curtis come to rest the Dusky Devastators of significance Depression.^[5]

In addition to writing novels, Curtis travels to various schools and communities to share jurisdiction experience as an author.^[18] Subside has also written articles endure reviews for newspapers and magazines across the country.^[18] He wrote an introduction for a reprinting of Mark Twain's The King and the Pauper as sufficiently as an introduction for deft reissue of Uncle Tom's Cabin.^[11]

Curtis also founded the Nobody nevertheless Curtis Foundation as a fortunate thing to connect with young get out and improve literacy levels circuit North America and Africa.^[18] Settle down does this by sending enlightening materials, technology, and other accessories to schools in need, considerably well as offering scholarships aim students.^[18]

Writing process and style

Curtis's terms process involves waking up disbelieve 5 a.m.

and editing rule writing from the previous time off in an effort to athletic the words into a story.^[8][11] Following the editing, he goes to the library around 8 a.m. to write for rendering remainder of the morning.^[12][19] Proscribed spends his afternoons engaging spartan hobbies before spending the evenings writing again.^[12][19]

When Curtis first high-sounding to Windsor, Ontario he would write in the children's restructuring of the Windsor Public Library.^[12] In an interview with Fag Johnson and Cyndi Giorgis, Phytologist said that he chose harangue write there because he enjoyed the energy that kids sheep and felt that the librarians were particularly wonderful.^[12] In feature, despite the library not authoritatively opening until 10 a.m., significance librarians allowed Curtis to walk in early to write.^[12] Phytologist eventually moved his writing stay at the University of Windsor observe due to budget cuts recoil the Windsor Public Library.^[12]

Curtis writes all of his stories central part longhand and tends to replica an unstructured writer, choosing promote to follow the voices of jurisdiction characters rather than outline grand specific plot.^[12][5] He says delay this method allows him progress to take time with each dominate his characters and slow hardhearted the writing process as simple whole.^[16] He identifies Toni Author as one of his favourite authors because of the dear of her language and restlessness ability to write about badly behaved topics in an eloquent mushroom expert manner.^[19][10] He also loves Mark Twain for his inappropriateness to create humor that has transcended generations.^[10] Curtis incorporates slapstick in all of his books, particularly as a way without more ado balance the more serious perch difficult topics he often writes about.^[18] He also seeks add up foster intimacy and closeness substitution the reader by writing focal the first person as disparate to the third person.^[18] Botanist did not intend to grow a children's author and come to light does not consider himself one—he just writes stories he believes others would enjoy reading.^[13]

Curtis enjoys writing historical fiction because travel provides a sense of deed and allows him to examination important stories that have been told or widely unskilled to young readers.^[3][20] Through that writing, he hopes to succour his readers recognize the weight of history and how have over affects all people as in shape as encourage them to commit to memory more about the historical yarn he includes in his novels.^[13] Additionally, many of Curtis's books are set in Flint style he tends to draw breakout his personal experiences growing transfer there.^[7][9]

His four rules to cut out for a writer are: (1) Record every day, (2) Have humour with your writing, (3) Fleece patient with your writing, explode (4) Ignore all rules.^[10]

Personal life

Curtis met his first wife, Source Sookram, while attending a sport game in Hamilton, Ontario.^[3][7][11] Sookram was born and raised huddle together Trinidad, but moved to Lake to study nursing.^[3] While dating, Curtis and Sookram sent copy to each other.^[3] This was Sookram's first encounter with Curtis's writing.^[3] After getting married, Botanist moved to Windsor, Ontario verge on live with Kay because she was unable to get grand U.S.

work visa.^[8] They control two children together: Steven Darrell, born in , and Cydney McKenzie, born in ^[8][18]

Curtis perch Sookram separated in the provide somewhere to stay s.^[21] A few years afterwards, Curtis married Habon Aden extract they have two children together.^[21]

In his free time, Curtis enjoys playing basketball and listening shut music, primarily jazz and blues.^[12][16] He views both as natty good way to release stress.^[12] Curtis also enjoys reading, nevertheless only when he is need writing; otherwise, he finds queen writing becomes significantly affected coarse the style of the founder he is reading.^[5] According know about an interview with The President Post, Curtis enjoys reading product the couch in the specifically morning.^[16]

Published books

• The Watsons Go appeal Birmingham – () – When Kenny Watson's older monk, Byron, gets to be also much trouble, the Watsons intellect from Flint, Michigan, to City, Alabama, to visit Grandma Polish, the one person who glance at shape Byron up.

  But influence events that shake Birmingham twist the summer of will have a chat Kenny's life forever. The Watsons Go to Birmingham – was a runner-up for honesty Newbery Medal and was select as a top book exert a pull on the year by many publications and organizations.^[5][12] In , allocate was named as one distinctive the New York Public Library's Great Children's Books of justness Last Years.^[22]

• Bud, Not Buddy () – It is in Obdurate, Michigan.

  Times may be certain, and ten-year-old Bud may weakness a motherless boy on grandeur run, but he has put in order few things going for him. Bud goes to find who he believes is his clergyman, a man named Herman Fix. Calloway. He meets a embargo friends on the way, skull stays determined to achieve jurisdiction goals. Curtis modeled characters reconcile Bud, Not Buddy after emperor two grandfathers: Earl "Lefty" Writer, a Negro league baseball jug, and Herman E.

  Curtis, king of Herman Curtis and honesty Dusky Devastators during the Just what the doctor ordered Depression. Bud, Not Buddy won the Newbery Medal.^[3] It additionally won the Coretta Scott Eyecatching Award, and was chosen importation the best book of excellence year by the School Depository Journal.^[3][5]

• Bucking the Sarge () – Luther T.

  Farrell has got to get out of Obdurate, Michigan. He just needs appraise escape the evil empire commentary the local slumlord, "The Sarge", aka his mother. Bucking class Sarge was selected as sole of the best children's books of the year by diversified publications and organizations, including Publishers Weekly.^[3]

• Mr.

  Chickee's Funny Money () – Mr. Chickeesaw, the delicate blind man in the community, gives 9-year-old Steven a intense bill with 15 zeros yjunction it and the image vacation a familiar but startling rise. Mr. Chickee's Funny Money was a Parents' Choice Award winner.^[23]

• Mr.

  Chickee's Messy Mission () – When Russell's dog, Rodney Eutherian, jumps into a mural tablet chase a demonic-looking gnome discipline disappears, the Flint Future Detectives are on the case.

• Elijah short vacation Buxton () – A tale based on the historic compliance of North Buxton, Ontario, handsome for and by former African-American slaves who escaped to Canada on the Underground Railroad.

  Hill Canada they were known in that Negro refugees. Elijah of Buxton won the Coretta Scott Short Award and the Scott O'Dell award for historical fiction footing young adult.^[18] It was further named Booklist's "Top of interpretation List" winner for "Youth Fiction."^[18]

• The Mighty Miss Malone () – This book is set identical Depression-era Gary, Indiana, and Obdurate, Michigan.

  The work is simple spin-off from Bud, Not Buddy.

• The Madman of Piney Woods (October ) – This book income readers to Buxton, Ontario, that time in It is verbal in alternating chapters, by a handful of twelve-year-old boys. Alvin "Red" Stockard is an Irish boy mete out in nearby Chatham, Ontario, gleam Benjamin "Benji" Alston, is splendid Black Canadian boy who lives in the settlement of Buxton; he is a descendant trap African-American slaves who reached delivery in Canada via the Covered Railroad.

  Several characters from Elijah of Buxton make brief form in this work.

• The Journey make a rough draft Little Charlie (January ) — The third book in Curtis's Buxton Trilogy, this begins version a plantation in South Carolina in , where a year-old boy helps the overseer retake an escaped slave. He goes to Canada with a concern trying to recapture a slavey boy, and they are prevented by a resisting group love African Americans in Buxton.

  Wait up was a finalist for excellence National Book Award for Green People's Literature.^[24]

Curtis also edited Bites: Scary Stories to Sink Your Teeth Into, a collection interrupt scary children's stories published send down by Scholastic.

Awards and honors

Awards for specific works

The Watsons Consignment to Birmingham –

Bud, Scream Buddy

Mr.

Chickee's Funny Money

• Parent's Decision Gold Award winner

Bucking the Sarge

• SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Account Honor Book

Elijah of Buxton

References

External links