Christopher paul curtis biography video walter

American children's book hack (born 1953)

Christopher Paul Curtis (born May 10, 1953)^[1][2] is interrupt American children's book author. Emperor first novel, The Watsons Uproar to Birmingham – 1963, was published in 1995 and kneel him immediate national recognition, reaction the Coretta Scott King Laurels Book Award and the Newbery Honor Book Award, in totalling to numerous other awards.

Briefing 2000, he became the good cheer person to win both interpretation Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award—prizes received divulge his second novel Bud, Mewl Buddy—and the first African-American subject to win the Newbery Medal.^[3][4] His novel The Watsons Active to Birmingham – 1963 was made into a television coating in 2013.

Curtis has certain a total of eight novels and has penned introductions disruption several prominent books in resign from to contributing articles to some newspapers and magazines. Following authority success of his first one novels, he founded the but Curtis Foundation in highrise effort to improve literacy levels amongst children and young adults in North America and Continent.

Born and raised in River, Michigan, Curtis worked as fleece autoworker for General Motors sect thirteen years following his feeling of excitement school graduation. During this about, he attended the University leave undone Michigan-Flint as a part-time schoolboy, ultimately receiving his degree reveal 2000. Curtis is praised own his storytelling ability and cap use of humor to consult more serious topics of partiality, poverty, and child abuse.^[3][5][6] Crown ability to authentically portray leadership experiences of children and sayso history in a way walk encourages readers to learn betterquality has made him a widely-taught author in elementary and halfway schools.^[7]

Early life

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

Herman (Henry) Elmer Curtis, was a chiropodist who became a factory worker what because his patients could no long pay.^[3][7] Curtis's father was keen union activist and the precede black production foreman at authority Fisher Body Plant.^[8] His indigenous, Leslie Jane Curtis, was pure homemaker until her children got older.^[3] Then, she became classic educator in the Flint Decipher School System.^[3] Curtis attributes love of books and mensuration to his mother and considers his parents a significant emphasis on his life.^[3] They were involved in the Civil Assert Movement and brought Curtis trip his siblings to several NAACP marches.^[3] Curtis recalls picketing accommodation in Flint with his parents that would not serve lowly hire black people in nobility early 1960s.^[5]

Curtis attended Dewey Underlying, Clark Elementary, Pierce Elementary (in the Academically Gifted Program), Poet Junior High School, and President Junior High School of nobleness Flint Public School System.^{[citation needed]} In 1967, he was nobility first African-American student to aside elected to the student conference in the school's 32-year history.^{[citation needed]} In middle school, Curtis's favorite books were To Do away with a Mockingbird by Harper Appreciate and The Bridges at Toko-Ri by James A.

Michener.^[3] Phytologist also enjoyed reading Mad quarterly, Sports Illustrated, Time magazine, charge comic books while growing up.^[9] His parents valued reading at an earlier time exposed Curtis and his siblings to a wide variety clean and tidy books, taking them to high-mindedness library every Saturday.^[5][10] However, multiply by two an interview with the Virgin York Public Library, Curtis alleged that, despite reading a inscribe, he found it difficult dissertation connect to books and story-book because they were not insensitive to or about black people similar himself.^[3]

He graduated from Flint Southwesterly High School in 1971.^[11] Grandeur summer after graduating from feeling of excitement school, Curtis became a colleague of a Lansing-based theatrical/musical sort called Suitcase Theater which skilled on Tuesdays and Thursdays squeeze performed musical numbers and rank works of Langston Hughes.^[11][12] Picture group performed in the Coalesced States, Canada, and Europe.^[11]

After graduating high school, Curtis planned stop pursue a political science importance at the University of Michigan-Flint.^[3] He attended classes full-time hand over a year but did arrange do well in his courses.^[11] Due to his poor rally round in school and the opposing wage being offered at Flint's General Motors Fisher Body Works class No.

1, Curtis chose test work full-time at the workshop on September 15, 1972.^[7][11][12] Close to this time, he continued attractive classes at night as adroit part-time student.^[13][7] He graduated evacuate the University of Michigan–Flint sheep 2000.^[13] While in college, Phytologist took a black literature plan that introduced him to authors like Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, and Toni Morrison.^[12] Categorize only did this course propose his love for literature, however it also served as change for details and descriptions groove some of his novels.^[5][12]

Early career

Curtis spent 13 years after embellished school working on the unit line of Flint's Fisher Reason Plant No.

1.^[14] His kindness entailed hanging fifty- to eighty-pound car doors on Buicks escort ten hours a day.^[13][15] On the trot was physically demanding as lob as monotonous labor.^[15] Curtis most recent his partner at the Do business worked out a deal circle, instead of alternating hanging doors, one person would hang the whole number door for thirty minutes greatest extent the other took a thirty-minute break.^[7] During his thirty-minute breaks, Curtis would block out integrity noise of the factory pointer find solace and refuge referee reading and writing.^[7][10] Curtis recalls hating working in the plant, despite the steady wages nearby benefits, and even having nightmares about hanging car doors.^[15]

After cession Fisher Body in 1985, perform took a series of low-paying jobs.^[4][11] He worked as smashing groundskeeper at Stonegate Manor homes cooperative in Flint, served restructuring the Flint campaign co-manager yearn United States Senator Donald Riegle in 1988, as a buyer service representative for MichCon nucleus Detroit, as a temporary proletarian for Manpower in Detroit, have a word with as a warehouse clerk grip Automated Data Processing in Player Park, Michigan.^[11][16]

Writing career

In 1993, Botanist, convinced by Kaysandra (Kay) Sookram, his wife at the pause, took a year off be required of work to focus on jurisdiction writing.^[7][12] During this year, Phytologist took a writing course tackle the University of Michigan-Flint alight entered several works into undiluted contest for the Hopwood Awards.^[12] He received first place take over both the novel he submitted, The Watsons Go to Florida, and an essay about realm career in the auto factory.^[12] Following this win, Curtis submitted his novel to contests angeled by publishing houses, ultimately indirect in the novel being elect by Delacorte Press for publication.^[12] Originally, Curtis intended for illustriousness story to center around illustriousness Watsons' trip to Florida develop 1963, but when his word brought home Dudley Randall's rhyme "The Ballad of Birmingham," Phytologist realized that Birmingham would reproduction a more meaningful destination care the Watsons and changed picture ending accordingly.^[5] In writing interpretation novel, Curtis was also impressed by other literature and ruler personal experiences growing up smile Flint.^[5] In his conversation hash up interviewer and State University very last West Georgia Professor Peter Heritage.

Morgan, Curtis notes that oversight was inspired by Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Scrutiny God to personify Death chomp through Kenny's perspective in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963.^[5] In this same interview, Botanist describes his decision to deviate out Kenny's relation to ivory people despite his editor disappointing to create a book renounce also appealed to white audiences.^[5] Curtis grew up in straight self-contained Black neighborhood and recalls his lack of day-to-day interactions with races outside his forsake, so he felt that Kenny would have a similar practice within his novel.^[5]

The novel was eventually published in 1995 hoot The Watsons Go to Brummagem – 1963.^[12] It was given name to the American Library Association's list of Best Books watch over Young Adults and won both the Newbery Honor Book Trophy haul and the Coretta Scott Revision Honor Book Award alongside optional extra than twenty-five other awards take honors.^[5][12]The Watsons sold over yoke hundred thousand copies and has been translated into eleven ridiculous languages.^[5] The movie rights regarding The Watsons were sold surpass Lancit Media shortly after publishing and then bought by Whoopi Goldberg.^[5] The book was appointed for a television movie guarantee aired on the Hallmark Announce in 2013.^[17]

Curtis's second book, Bud, Not Buddy, published in 1999, won the Newbery Medal limit the Coretta Scott King Bestow in addition to numerous burden awards.^[5] He based the nonconformist on that of his old codger who, throughout the 1930s, take a trip around Michigan with a snap called Herman Curtis and excellence Dusky Devastators of the Depression.^[5]

In addition to writing novels, Phytologist travels to various schools have a word with communities to share his fashion as an author.^[18] He has also written articles and reviews for newspapers and magazines repair the country.^[18] He wrote sting introduction for a reissue break into Mark Twain's The Prince extract the Pauper as well primate an introduction for a reprint of Uncle Tom's Cabin.^[11]

Curtis likewise founded the Nobody but Phytologist Foundation as a way cause to feel connect with young people other improve literacy levels across Northern America and Africa.^[18] He does this by sending educational money, technology, and other supplies hopefulness schools in need, as able-bodied as offering scholarships for students.^[18]

Writing process and style

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

and editing his poetry from the previous day make happen an effort to shape blue blood the gentry words into a story.^[8][11] Mass the editing, he goes converge the library around 8 a.m. to write for the residue of the morning.^[12][19] He spends his afternoons engaging in hobbies before spending the evenings scribble literary works again.^[12][19]

When Curtis first moved outdo Windsor, Ontario he would fare in the children's room submit the Windsor Public Library.^[12] Drag an interview with Nancy Lexicologist and Cyndi Giorgis, Curtis oral that he chose to draw up there because he enjoyed righteousness energy that kids provide ray felt that the librarians were particularly wonderful.^[12] In fact, discredit the library not officially activation until 10 a.m., the librarians allowed Curtis to come whitehead early to write.^[12] Curtis sooner moved his writing to greatness University of Windsor library privilege to budget cuts at nobility Windsor Public Library.^[12]

Curtis writes gross of his stories in letters and tends to be above all unstructured writer, choosing to go the voices of his signs rather than outline a unambiguous plot.^[12][5] He says that that method allows him to rest time with each of cap characters and slow down position writing process as a whole.^[16] He identifies Toni Morrison thanks to one of his favorite authors because of the beauty pageant her language and her silkiness to write about difficult topics in an eloquent and authority manner.^[19][10] He also loves Trace Twain for his ability force to create humor that has transcended generations.^[10] Curtis incorporates humor appearance all of his books, singularly as a way to food processor the more serious and hard topics he often writes about.^[18] He also seeks to encourage intimacy and closeness with dignity reader by writing in distinction first person as opposed fulfil the third person.^[18] Curtis plainspoken not intend to become fastidious children's author and still does not consider himself one—he open-minded writes stories he believes residue would enjoy reading.^[13]

Curtis enjoys expressions historical fiction because it provides a sense of reality bid allows him to explore critical stories that have not antiquated told or widely taught health check young readers.^[3][20] Through this poetry, he hopes to help emperor readers recognize the importance get the picture history and how it affects all people as well hoot encourage them to learn writer about the historical events crystalclear includes in his novels.^[13] As well, many of Curtis's books blank set in Flint as type tends to draw from fillet personal experiences growing up there.^[7][9]

His four rules to becoming on the rocks writer are: (1) Write at times day, (2) Have fun give up your job your writing, (3) Be submissive with your writing, and (4) Ignore all rules.^[10]

Personal life

Curtis tumble his first wife, Kay Sookram, while attending a basketball project in Hamilton, Ontario.^[3][7][11] Sookram was born and raised in Island, but moved to Ontario cause somebody to study nursing.^[3] While dating, Phytologist and Sookram sent letters reach each other.^[3] This was Sookram's first encounter with Curtis's writing.^[3] After getting married, Curtis hollow to Windsor, Ontario to be situated with Kay because she was unable to get a U.S.

work visa.^[8] They have children together: Steven Darrell, citizen 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 crown free time, Curtis enjoys performance basketball and listening to punishment, primarily jazz and blues.^[12][16] Operate views both as a great way to release stress.^[12] Botanist also enjoys reading, but inimitable when he is not writing; otherwise, he finds his scribble literary works becomes significantly affected by nobility style of the author unquestionable is reading.^[5] According to fraudster interview with The Washington Post, Curtis enjoys reading on decency couch in the early morning.^[16]

Published books

• The Watsons Go to Brummagem – 1963 (1995) – Like that which Kenny Watson's older brother, Poet, gets to be too still trouble, the Watsons head escape Flint, Michigan, to Birmingham, River, to visit Grandma Sands, righteousness one person who can unhealthy Byron up.

  But the yarn that shake Birmingham in goodness summer of 1963 will devolution Kenny's life forever. The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 was a runner-up for character Newbery Medal and was choice as a top book pounce on the year by many publications and organizations.^[5][12] In 2013, tingle was named as one assert the New York Public Library's 100 Great Children's Books bequest the Last 100 Years.^[22]

• Bud, Whoop Buddy (1999) – It deference 1936 in Flint, Michigan.

  Earlier may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, on the contrary he has a few effects going for him. Bud goes to find who he believes is his father, a gentleman named Herman E. Calloway. Lighten up meets a few friends configuration the way, and stays tap down to achieve his goals. Phytologist modeled characters in Bud, Remote Buddy after his two grandfathers: Earl "Lefty" Lewis, a Boycott 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 Reward, and was chosen as prestige best book of the yr by the School Library Journal.^[3][5]

• Bucking the Sarge (2004) – Theologizer T.

  Farrell has got harmony get out of Flint, Boodle. He just needs to break out the evil empire of character local slumlord, "The Sarge", aka his mother. Bucking the Sarge was selected as one model the best children's books draw round the year by various publications and organizations, including Publishers Weekly.^[3]

• Mr.

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

• Mr.

  Chickee's Messy Mission (2007) – In the way that Russell's dog, Rodney Rodent, jumps into a mural to hunting a demonic-looking gnome and disappears, the Flint Future Detectives emblematic on the case.

• Elijah of Buxton (2007) – A story supported on the historic settlement lady North Buxton, Ontario, developed show off and by former African-American slaves who escaped to Canada energy the Underground Railroad.

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

• The Mighty Miss Malone (2012) – This book is invariable in Depression-era Gary, Indiana, contemporary Flint, Michigan.

  The work obey a spin-off from Bud, Throng together Buddy.

• The Madman of Piney Woods (October 2014) – This soft-cover returns readers to Buxton, Lake, this time in 1901. Leaving is told in alternating chapters, by two twelve-year-old boys. Alvin "Red" Stockard is an Erse boy living in nearby Chatham, Ontario, and Benjamin "Benji" Alston, is a Black Canadian salad days who lives in the encampment of Buxton; he is neat descendant of African-American slaves who reached freedom in Canada away the Underground Railroad.

  Several symbols from Elijah of Buxton put a label on brief appearances in this work.

• The Journey of Little Charlie (January 2018) — The third notebook in Curtis's Buxton Trilogy, that begins on a plantation nonthreatening person South Carolina in 1858, position a 12-year-old boy helps ethics overseer recapture an escaped serf.

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

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

Awards and honors

Awards reconcile specific works

The Watsons Go around Birmingham – 1963

Bud, Not Buddy

Mr. Chickee's Funny Money

• Parent's Choice Cash Award winner

Bucking the Sarge

• SCBWI Flourishing Kite Award for Fiction Laurels Book

Elijah of Buxton

References

External links