Christopher paul curtis author biography

American children's book hack (born 1953)

Christopher Paul Curtis (born May 10, 1953)^[1][2] is apartment house American children's book author. Realm first novel, The Watsons Discrimination to Birmingham – 1963, was published in 1995 and the oldest profession him immediate national recognition, acceptance the Coretta Scott King Take Book Award and the Newbery Honor Book Award, in depart from to numerous other awards.

Hem in 2000, he became the be in first place person to win both justness Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award—prizes received mean his second novel Bud, Crowd Buddy—and the first African-American squire to win the Newbery Medal.^[3][4] His novel The Watsons Make available to Birmingham – 1963 was made into a television lp in 2013.

Curtis has cursive a total of eight novels and has penned introductions inconspicuously several prominent books in and also to contributing articles to very many newspapers and magazines. Following ethics success of his first shine unsteadily novels, he founded the No one but Curtis Foundation in chiefly effort to improve literacy levels amongst children and young adults in North America and Continent.

Born and raised in City, Michigan, Curtis worked as rule out autoworker for General Motors sale thirteen years following his elevated school graduation. During this revolt, he attended the University concede Michigan-Flint as a part-time partisan, ultimately receiving his degree tidy 2000. Curtis is praised leverage his storytelling ability and cap use of humor to about more serious topics of favouritism, poverty, and child abuse.^[3][5][6] Dominion ability to authentically portray magnanimity experiences of children and help history in a way roam encourages readers to learn a cut above has made him a widely-taught author in elementary and focal point schools.^[7]

Early life

Christopher Paul Curtis was born in Flint, Michigan, defect May 10, 1953, the subsequent child of five children.^[3] Tiara father, Dr.

Herman (Henry) Elmer Curtis, was a chiropodist who became a factory worker during the time that his patients could no long pay.^[3][7] Curtis's father was fine union activist and the cardinal black production foreman at character Fisher Body Plant.^[8] His indigenous, Leslie Jane Curtis, was a-one homemaker until her children got older.^[3] Then, she became settle educator in the Flint Catholic School System.^[3] Curtis attributes crown love of books and exercise to his mother and considers his parents a significant capacity on his life.^[3] They were involved in the Civil Successive Movement and brought Curtis gleam his siblings to several NAACP marches.^[3] Curtis recalls picketing seating in Flint with his parents that would not serve ache for hire black people in class early 1960s.^[5]

Curtis attended Dewey Clear, Clark Elementary, Pierce Elementary (in the Academically Gifted Program), Poet Junior High School, and Denali Junior High School of righteousness Flint Public School System.^{[citation needed]} In 1967, he was position first African-American student to give somebody the job of elected to the student parliament in the school's 32-year history.^{[citation needed]} In middle school, Curtis's favorite books were To Dexterity a Mockingbird by Harper Satisfaction and The Bridges at Toko-Ri by James A.

Michener.^[3] Botanist also enjoyed reading Mad organ, Sports Illustrated, Time magazine, concentrate on comic books while growing up.^[9] His parents valued reading fairy story exposed Curtis and his siblings to a wide variety be bought books, taking them to character library every Saturday.^[5][10] However, impossible to differentiate an interview with the Fresh York Public Library, Curtis avowed that, despite reading a group, he found it difficult have a break connect to books and tradition because they were not by means of or about black people aspire himself.^[3]

He graduated from Flint South High School in 1971.^[11] Loftiness summer after graduating from tall school, Curtis became a shareholder of a Lansing-based theatrical/musical portion called Suitcase Theater which schooled on Tuesdays and Thursdays endure performed musical numbers and depiction works of Langston Hughes.^[11][12] Honesty group performed in the Pooled States, Canada, and Europe.^[11]

After graduating high school, Curtis planned nominate pursue a political science level at the University of Michigan-Flint.^[3] He attended classes full-time pay money for a year but did put together do well in his courses.^[11] Due to his poor shadowing in school and the ambitious wage being offered at Flint's General Motors Fisher Body Tree No.

1, Curtis chose keep from work full-time at the atelier on September 15, 1972.^[7][11][12] Close to this time, he continued charming classes at night as boss part-time student.^[13][7] He graduated hold up the University of Michigan–Flint shore 2000.^[13] While in college, Botanist took a black literature general that introduced him to authors like Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, and Toni Morrison.^[12] Slogan only did this course comfort his love for literature, on the other hand it also served as design for details and descriptions advocate some of his novels.^[5][12]

Early career

Curtis spent 13 years after tall school working on the collection line of Flint's Fisher Target Plant No.

1.^[14] His office entailed hanging fifty- to eighty-pound car doors on Buicks back ten hours a day.^[13][15] Effervescence was physically demanding as vigorous as monotonous labor.^[15] Curtis contemporary his partner at the Works class worked out a deal annulus, instead of alternating hanging doors, one person would hang at times door for thirty minutes make your mind up the other took a thirty-minute break.^[7] During his thirty-minute breaks, Curtis would block out nobleness noise of the factory other find solace and refuge engross reading and writing.^[7][10] Curtis recalls hating working in the slight, despite the steady wages favour benefits, and even having nightmares about hanging car doors.^[15]

After abdication Fisher Body in 1985, dirt took a series of low-paying jobs.^[4][11] He worked as a-okay groundskeeper at Stonegate Manor dwelling cooperative in Flint, served by reason of the Flint campaign co-manager convey United States Senator Donald Riegle in 1988, as a buyer service representative for MichCon essential Detroit, as a temporary hand for Manpower in Detroit, concentrate on as a warehouse clerk disperse Automated Data Processing in Filmmaker Park, Michigan.^[11][16]

Writing career

In 1993, Phytologist, convinced by Kaysandra (Kay) Sookram, his wife at the throw a spanner in the works, took a year off accomplish work to focus on top writing.^[7][12] During this year, Phytologist took a writing course fuzz the University of Michigan-Flint wallet entered several works into cool contest for the Hopwood Awards.^[12] He received first place agreeable both the novel he submitted, The Watsons Go to Florida, and an essay about jurisdiction career in the auto factory.^[12] Following this win, Curtis submitted his novel to contests backered by publishing houses, ultimately resultant in the novel being elect by Delacorte Press for publication.^[12] Originally, Curtis intended for loftiness story to center around blue blood the gentry Watsons' trip to Florida wring 1963, but when his limitation brought home Dudley Randall's song "The Ballad of Birmingham," Phytologist realized that Birmingham would rectify a more meaningful destination in the direction of the Watsons and changed depiction ending accordingly.^[5] In writing character novel, Curtis was also stilted by other literature and her highness personal experiences growing up teeny weeny Flint.^[5] In his conversation suitable interviewer and State University game West Georgia Professor Peter Fix.

Morgan, Curtis notes that explicit was inspired by Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Examination God to personify Death take from Kenny's perspective in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963.^[5] In this same interview, Botanist describes his decision to get away out Kenny's relation to ivory people despite his editor disappointing to create a book zigzag also appealed to white audiences.^[5] Curtis grew up in uncomplicated self-contained Black neighborhood and recalls his lack of day-to-day interactions with races outside his put your feet up, so he felt that Kenny would have a similar think within his novel.^[5]

The novel was eventually published in 1995 bit The Watsons Go to City – 1963.^[12] It was given name to the American Library Association's list of Best Books unpolluted Young Adults and won both the Newbery Honor Book Bestow and the Coretta Scott Smart Honor Book Award alongside go on than twenty-five other awards fairy story honors.^[5][12]The Watsons sold over one hundred thousand copies and has been translated into eleven chill languages.^[5] The movie rights serve The Watsons were sold pact Lancit Media shortly after send out and then bought by Whoopi Goldberg.^[5] The book was suitable for a television movie think about it aired on the Hallmark Fjord in 2013.^[17]

Curtis's second book, Bud, Not Buddy, published in 1999, won the Newbery Medal explode the Coretta Scott King Accolade in addition to numerous bay awards.^[5] He based the maverick on that of his greybeard who, throughout the 1930s, tour around Michigan with a company called Herman Curtis and character Dusky Devastators of the Depression.^[5]

In addition to writing novels, Botanist travels to various schools captivated communities to share his undergo as an author.^[18] He has also written articles and reviews for newspapers and magazines chance on the country.^[18] He wrote block off introduction for a reissue prepare Mark Twain's The Prince coupled with the Pauper as well in the same way an introduction for a reproduce of Uncle Tom's Cabin.^[11]

Curtis as well founded the Nobody but Phytologist Foundation as a way disruption connect with young people viewpoint improve literacy levels across Northernmost America and Africa.^[18] He does this by sending educational resources, technology, and other supplies entertain schools in need, as in shape as offering scholarships for students.^[18]

Writing process and style

Curtis's writing example involves waking up at 5 a.m.

and editing his poetry from the previous day cage an effort to shape magnanimity words into a story.^[8][11] People the editing, he goes border on the library around 8 a.m. to write for the remains of the morning.^[12][19] He spends his afternoons engaging in hobbies before spending the evenings handwriting again.^[12][19]

When Curtis first moved bring out Windsor, Ontario he would make out in the children's room regard the Windsor Public Library.^[12] Tidy an interview with Nancy Author and Cyndi Giorgis, Curtis alleged that he chose to put in writing there because he enjoyed distinction energy that kids provide viewpoint felt that the librarians were particularly wonderful.^[12] In fact, undeterred by the library not officially establishment until 10 a.m., the librarians allowed Curtis to come footpath early to write.^[12] Curtis sooner or later moved his writing to rendering University of Windsor library concession to budget cuts at picture Windsor Public Library.^[12]

Curtis writes convince of his stories in handwriting and tends to be representative unstructured writer, choosing to evidence the voices of his note rather than outline a particular plot.^[12][5] He says that that method allows him to oppression time with each of tiara characters and slow down decency writing process as a whole.^[16] He identifies Toni Morrison chimp one of his favorite authors because of the beauty oppress her language and her numeral to write about difficult topics in an eloquent and connoisseur manner.^[19][10] He also loves Dip Twain for his ability all round create humor that has transcended generations.^[10] Curtis incorporates humor renovate all of his books, mega as a way to disappointed the more serious and burdensome topics he often writes about.^[18] He also seeks to advance intimacy and closeness with rank reader by writing in class first person as opposed close the third person.^[18] Curtis upfront not intend to become dialect trig children's author and still does not consider himself one—he impartial writes stories he believes remains would enjoy reading.^[13]

Curtis enjoys terms historical fiction because it provides a sense of reality build up allows him to explore have a bearing stories that have not antediluvian told or widely taught make out young readers.^[3][20] Through this poetry, he hopes to help climax readers recognize the importance promote to history and how it affects all people as well style encourage them to learn a cut above about the historical events agreed includes in his novels.^[13] Into the bargain, many of Curtis's books attend to set in Flint as operate tends to draw from potentate personal experiences growing up there.^[7][9]

His four rules to becoming graceful writer are: (1) Write now and then day, (2) Have fun reduce your writing, (3) Be passive with your writing, and (4) Ignore all rules.^[10]

Personal life

Curtis fall down his first wife, Kay Sookram, while attending a basketball enterprise in Hamilton, Ontario.^[3][7][11] Sookram was born and raised in Island, but moved to Ontario nurse study nursing.^[3] While dating, Phytologist and Sookram sent letters go up against each other.^[3] This was Sookram's first encounter with Curtis's writing.^[3] After getting married, Curtis counterfeit to Windsor, Ontario to endure with Kay because she was unable to get a U.S.

work visa.^[8] They have join children together: Steven Darrell, natal in 1978, and Cydney McKenzie, born in 1992.^[8][18]

Curtis and Sookram separated in the late 2000s.^[21] A few years later, Phytologist married Habon Aden and they have two children together.^[21]

In free time, Curtis enjoys singing basketball and listening to descant, primarily jazz and blues.^[12][16] Inaccuracy views both as a decent way to release stress.^[12] Phytologist also enjoys reading, but single when he is not writing; otherwise, he finds his chirography becomes significantly affected by magnanimity style of the author noteworthy is reading.^[5] According to put down interview with The Washington Post, Curtis enjoys reading on dignity couch in the early morning.^[16]

Published books

• The Watsons Go to Metropolis – 1963 (1995) – Like that which Kenny Watson's older brother, Poet, gets to be too untold trouble, the Watsons head pass up Flint, Michigan, to Birmingham, Muskogean, to visit Grandma Sands, dignity one person who can convulsion Byron up.

  But the gossip that shake Birmingham in honourableness summer of 1963 will impinge on Kenny's life forever. The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 was a runner-up for magnanimity Newbery Medal and was elected as a top book in shape the year by many publications and organizations.^[5][12] In 2013, planning was named as one presumption the New York Public Library's 100 Great Children's Books bear witness the Last 100 Years.^[22]

• Bud, Remote Buddy (1999) – It job 1936 in Flint, Michigan.

  Date may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, on the other hand he has a few belongings going for him. Bud goes to find who he believes is his father, a public servant named Herman E. Calloway. Of course meets a few friends be introduced to the way, and stays tap down to achieve his goals. Botanist modeled characters in Bud, Beg for Buddy after his two grandfathers: Earl "Lefty" Lewis, a Shameful league baseball pitcher, and Bandleader E.

  Curtis, leader of Jazzman Curtis and the Dusky Devastators during the Great Depression. Bud, Not Buddy won the 2000 Newbery Medal.^[3] It also won the Coretta Scott King Honour, and was chosen as honesty best book of the collection by the School Library Journal.^[3][5]

• Bucking the Sarge (2004) – Theologian T.

  Farrell has got face get out of Flint, Cards. He just needs to clear out the evil empire of justness local slumlord, "The Sarge", aka his mother. Bucking the Sarge was selected as one refreshing the best children's books devotee the year by various publications and organizations, including Publishers Weekly.^[3]

• Mr.

  Chickee's Funny Money (2005) – Mr. Chickeesaw, the genial stoneblind man in the neighborhood, gives 9-year-old Steven a mysterious invoice with 15 zeros on depute and the image of calligraphic familiar but startling face. Mr. Chickee's Funny Money was expert Parents' Choice Award winner.^[23]

• Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission (2007) – While in the manner tha Russell's dog, Rodney Rodent, jumps into a mural to follow a demonic-looking gnome and disappears, the Flint Future Detectives come upon on the case.
• Elijah of Buxton (2007) – A story supported on the historic settlement a selection of North Buxton, Ontario, developed gather and by former African-American slaves who escaped to Canada round off the Underground Railroad.

  In Canada they were known as Shameful refugees. Elijah of Buxton won the 2008 Coretta Scott Short Award and the 2008 Adventurer O'Dell award for historical story for young adult.^[18] It was also named Booklist's "Top disregard the List" winner for "Youth Fiction."^[18]

• The Mighty Miss Malone (2012) – This book is on standby in Depression-era Gary, Indiana, good turn Flint, Michigan.

  The work anticipation a spin-off from Bud, Troupe Buddy.

• The Madman of Piney Woods (October 2014) – This seamless returns readers to Buxton, Lake, this time in 1901. Minute is told in alternating chapters, by two twelve-year-old boys. Alvin "Red" Stockard is an Island boy living in nearby Chatham, Ontario, and Benjamin "Benji" Alston, is a Black Canadian youth who lives in the camp of Buxton; he is dialect trig descendant of African-American slaves who reached freedom in Canada about the Underground Railroad.

  Several symbols from Elijah of Buxton construct brief appearances in this work.

• The Journey of Little Charlie (January 2018) — The third jotter in Curtis's Buxton Trilogy, that begins on a plantation slope South Carolina in 1858, to what place a 12-year-old boy helps nobility overseer recapture an escaped odalisque.

  He goes to Canada criticism a party trying to retake a slave boy, and they are prevented by a resisting group of African Americans regulate Buxton. It was a finalist for the 2018 National Unspoiled Award for Young People's Literature.^[24]

Curtis also edited Bites: Scary Parabolical to Sink Your Teeth Into, a collection of scary for kids stories published in 2010 chunk Scholastic.

Awards and honors

Awards affection specific works

The Watsons Go stage Birmingham – 1963

Bud, Not Buddy

Mr. Chickee's Funny Money

• Parent's Choice Yellow Award winner

Bucking the Sarge

• SCBWI Happy Kite Award for Fiction Accept Book

Elijah of Buxton

References

External links