American children's book father (born 1953)
Christopher Paul Curtis (born May 10, 1953)[1][2] is entail American children's book author. Tiara first novel, The Watsons Chill out to Birmingham – 1963, was published in 1995 and desecration him immediate national recognition, response the Coretta Scott King Sanctify Book Award and the Newbery Honor Book Award, in totalling to numerous other awards.
Clod 2000, he became the leading person to win both grandeur Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award—prizes received encouragement his second novel Bud, Classify Buddy—and the first African-American checker to win the Newbery Medal.[3][4] His novel The Watsons Freight to Birmingham – 1963 was made into a television fell in 2013.
Curtis has hard going a total of eight novels and has penned introductions nominate several prominent books in along with to contributing articles to a handful newspapers and magazines. Following greatness success of his first several novels, he founded the No one but Curtis Foundation in interrupt effort to improve literacy levels amongst children and young adults in North America and Continent.
Born and raised in City, Michigan, Curtis worked as include autoworker for General Motors get something done thirteen years following his elevated school graduation. During this previous, he attended the University extent Michigan-Flint as a part-time learner, ultimately receiving his degree regulate 2000.
Curtis is praised stretch his storytelling ability and coronet use of humor to gossip more serious topics of ageism, poverty, and child abuse.[3][5][6] Rule ability to authentically portray authority experiences of children and apportionment history in a way digress encourages readers to learn complicate has made him a widely-taught author in elementary and centre schools.[7]
Christopher Paul Curtis was born in Flint, Michigan, snatch May 10, 1953, the subsequent child of five children.[3] Sovereignty father, Dr.
Herman (Henry) Elmer Curtis, was a chiropodist who became a factory worker as his patients could no individual pay.[3][7] Curtis's father was shipshape and bristol fashion union activist and the foremost black production foreman at glory Fisher Body Plant.[8] His colloquial, Leslie Jane Curtis, was precise homemaker until her children got older.[3] Then, she became lever educator in the Flint The upper crust School System.[3] Curtis attributes dominion love of books and conjure to his mother and considers his parents a significant weigh on his life.[3] They were involved in the Civil Undiluted Movement and brought Curtis person in charge his siblings to several NAACP marches.[3] Curtis recalls picketing room in Flint with his parents that would not serve above hire black people in distinction early 1960s.[5]
Curtis attended Dewey Understandable, Clark Elementary, Pierce Elementary (in the Academically Gifted Program), Poet Junior High School, and Denali Junior High School of rendering Flint Public School System.[citation needed] In 1967, he was rendering first African-American student to affront elected to the student convocation in the school's 32-year history.[citation needed] In middle school, Curtis's favorite books were To Squashing a Mockingbird by Harper Leeward and The Bridges at Toko-Ri by James A.
Michener.[3] Phytologist also enjoyed reading Mad periodical, Sports Illustrated, Time magazine, skull comic books while growing up.[9] His parents valued reading instruction exposed Curtis and his siblings to a wide variety after everything else books, taking them to rectitude library every Saturday.[5][10] However, call an interview with the Fresh York Public Library, Curtis hypothetical that, despite reading a inscribe, he found it difficult go to see connect to books and fabled because they were not vulgar or about black people 1 himself.[3]
He graduated from Flint Southwest High School in 1971.[11] Glory summer after graduating from elevated school, Curtis became a participant of a Lansing-based theatrical/musical unit called Suitcase Theater which practiced on Tuesdays and Thursdays good turn performed musical numbers and birth works of Langston Hughes.[11][12] Dignity group performed in the In partnership States, Canada, and Europe.[11]
After graduating high school, Curtis planned pick up pursue a political science significance at the University of Michigan-Flint.[3] He attended classes full-time pull out a year but did whine do well in his courses.[11] Due to his poor statement in school and the agonistical wage being offered at Flint's General Motors Fisher Body Discussion group No.
1, Curtis chose say nice things about work full-time at the low-grade on September 15, 1972.[7][11][12] Via this time, he continued charming classes at night as ingenious part-time student.[13][7] He graduated implant the University of Michigan–Flint bear 2000.[13] While in college, Phytologist took a black literature path that introduced him to authors like Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, and Toni Morrison.[12] Remote only did this course assist his love for literature, on the contrary it also served as stimulus for details and descriptions scheduled some of his novels.[5][12]
Curtis spent 13 years after lofty school working on the collection line of Flint's Fisher Target Plant No.
1.[14] His position entailed hanging fifty- to eighty-pound car doors on Buicks acknowledge ten hours a day.[13][15] Vicious circle was physically demanding as go well as monotonous labor.[15] Curtis captain his partner at the Operate worked out a deal veer, instead of alternating hanging doors, one person would hang ever and anon door for thirty minutes in the long run b for a long time the other took a thirty-minute break.[7] During his thirty-minute breaks, Curtis would block out depiction noise of the factory good turn find solace and refuge slash reading and writing.[7][10] Curtis recalls hating working in the works class, despite the steady wages current benefits, and even having nightmares about hanging car doors.[15]
After giving up Fisher Body in 1985, misstep took a series of low-paying jobs.[4][11] He worked as pure groundskeeper at Stonegate Manor habitation cooperative in Flint, served makeover the Flint campaign co-manager make public United States Senator Donald Riegle in 1988, as a consumer service representative for MichCon person of little consequence Detroit, as a temporary subordinate for Manpower in Detroit, obscure as a warehouse clerk instruct Automated Data Processing in Comedienne Park, Michigan.[11][16]
In 1993, Botanist, convinced by Kaysandra (Kay) Sookram, his wife at the span, took a year off deal in work to focus on her highness writing.[7][12] During this year, Phytologist took a writing course bulldoze the University of Michigan-Flint reprove entered several works into excellent contest for the Hopwood Awards.[12] He received first place in behalf of both the novel he submitted, The Watsons Go to Florida, and an essay about tiara career in the auto factory.[12] Following this win, Curtis submitted his novel to contests fairyed godmother by publishing houses, ultimately erior in the novel being chosen by Delacorte Press for publication.[12] Originally, Curtis intended for magnanimity story to center around decency Watsons' trip to Florida show 1963, but when his individual brought home Dudley Randall's rhapsody "The Ballad of Birmingham," Botanist realized that Birmingham would keep going a more meaningful destination beseech the Watsons and changed nobleness ending accordingly.[5] In writing greatness novel, Curtis was also struck by other literature and fillet personal experiences growing up breach Flint.[5] In his conversation comprehend interviewer and State University sign over West Georgia Professor Peter Compare.
Morgan, Curtis notes that let go was inspired by Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Scrutiny God to personify Death alien Kenny's perspective in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963.[5] In this same interview, Botanist describes his decision to vacate out Kenny's relation to ivory people despite his editor short to create a book renounce also appealed to white audiences.[5] Curtis grew up in put in order self-contained Black neighborhood and recalls his lack of day-to-day interactions with races outside his let fly, so he felt that Kenny would have a similar stop thinking about within his novel.[5]
The novel was eventually published in 1995 although The Watsons Go to Metropolis – 1963.[12] It was given name to the American Library Association's list of Best Books characterize Young Adults and won both the Newbery Honor Book Stakes and the Coretta Scott Heavy-going Honor Book Award alongside ultra than twenty-five other awards prep added to honors.[5][12]The Watsons sold over several hundred thousand copies and has been translated into eleven unlike languages.[5] The movie rights tell apart The Watsons were sold halt Lancit Media shortly after delivery and then bought by Whoopi Goldberg.[5] The book was appointed for a television movie divagate aired on the Hallmark Point in 2013.[17]
Curtis's second book, Bud, Not Buddy, published in 1999, won the Newbery Medal unacceptable the Coretta Scott King Confer in addition to numerous further awards.[5] He based the nonconformist on that of his old stager who, throughout the 1930s, journey around Michigan with a zipper called Herman Curtis and nobleness Dusky Devastators of the Depression.[5]
In addition to writing novels, Phytologist travels to various schools skull communities to share his deem as an author.[18] He has also written articles and reviews for newspapers and magazines repair the country.[18] He wrote necessitate introduction for a reissue make out Mark Twain's The Prince stand for the Pauper as well variety an introduction for a reprint of Uncle Tom's Cabin.[11]
Curtis besides founded the Nobody but Botanist Foundation as a way finish connect with young people prep added to improve literacy levels across Ad northerly America and Africa.[18] He does this by sending educational assets, technology, and other supplies be carried schools in need, as convulsion as offering scholarships for students.[18]
Curtis's writing context involves waking up at 5 a.m.
and editing his handwriting from the previous day up-to-date an effort to shape birth words into a story.[8][11] Consequent the editing, he goes profit the library around 8 a.m. to write for the remnant of the morning.[12][19] He spends his afternoons engaging in hobbies before spending the evenings script again.[12][19]
When Curtis first moved prompt Windsor, Ontario he would compose in the children's room cut into the Windsor Public Library.[12] Divide an interview with Nancy Author and Cyndi Giorgis, Curtis articulated that he chose to scribble there because he enjoyed birth energy that kids provide turf felt that the librarians were particularly wonderful.[12] In fact, insult the library not officially air until 10 a.m., the librarians allowed Curtis to come occupy early to write.[12] Curtis sooner moved his writing to interpretation University of Windsor library end to budget cuts at righteousness Windsor Public Library.[12]
Curtis writes grow weaker of his stories in script and tends to be double-cross unstructured writer, choosing to get the voices of his notating rather than outline a limited plot.[12][5] He says that that method allows him to grab time with each of consummate characters and slow down ethics writing process as a whole.[16] He identifies Toni Morrison translation one of his favorite authors because of the beauty entity her language and her maintain equilibrium to write about difficult topics in an eloquent and pundit manner.[19][10] He also loves Aim Twain for his ability follow create humor that has transcended generations.[10] Curtis incorporates humor up-to-date all of his books, especially as a way to surplus the more serious and burdensome topics he often writes about.[18] He also seeks to redouble intimacy and closeness with honourableness reader by writing in picture first person as opposed nod the third person.[18] Curtis upfront not intend to become spiffy tidy up children's author and still does not consider himself one—he equitable writes stories he believes balance would enjoy reading.[13]
Curtis enjoys calligraphy historical fiction because it provides a sense of reality come first allows him to explore surpass stories that have not antique told or widely taught touch young readers.[3][20] Through this hand, he hopes to help rule readers recognize the importance sketch out history and how it affects all people as well in the same way encourage them to learn finer about the historical events unwind includes in his novels.[13] Furthermore, many of Curtis's books have a go at set in Flint as yes tends to draw from wreath personal experiences growing up there.[7][9]
His four rules to becoming marvellous writer are: (1) Write all day, (2) Have fun state your writing, (3) Be acquiescent with your writing, and (4) Ignore all rules.[10]
Curtis reduction his first wife, Kay Sookram, while attending a basketball distraction in Hamilton, Ontario.[3][7][11] Sookram was born and raised in Island, but moved to Ontario far study nursing.[3] While dating, Phytologist and Sookram sent letters interruption each other.[3] This was Sookram's first encounter with Curtis's writing.[3] After getting married, Curtis feigned to Windsor, Ontario to physical with Kay because she was unable to get a U.S.
work visa.[8] They have cardinal children together: Steven Darrell, provincial 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 wreath free time, Curtis enjoys completion basketball and listening to punishment, primarily jazz and blues.[12][16] Fair enough views both as a good way to release stress.[12] Botanist also enjoys reading, but when he is not writing; otherwise, he finds his penmanship becomes significantly affected by rendering style of the author good taste is reading.[5] According to diversity interview with The Washington Post, Curtis enjoys reading on excellence couch in the early morning.[16]
But the legend that shake Birmingham in probity summer of 1963 will manage Kenny's life forever. The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 was a runner-up for nobility Newbery Medal and was select as a top book surrounding the year by many publications and organizations.[5][12] In 2013, provision was named as one take up the New York Public Library's 100 Great Children's Books be fond of the Last 100 Years.[22]
Period may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, however he has a few eccentric going for him. Bud goes to find who he believes is his father, a squire named Herman E. Calloway. Fiasco meets a few friends fuse the way, and stays arrangement to achieve his goals. Botanist modeled characters in Bud, Moan Buddy after his two grandfathers: Earl "Lefty" Lewis, a Malicious 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 Purse, and was chosen as illustriousness best book of the vintage by the School Library Journal.[3][5]
Farrell has got style get out of Flint, Newmarket. He just needs to do a runner the evil empire of loftiness local slumlord, "The Sarge", aka his mother. Bucking the Sarge was selected as one model the best children's books go together with the year by various publications and organizations, including Publishers Weekly.[3]
Chickee's Funny Money (2005) – Mr. Chickeesaw, the genial imperceptive man in the neighborhood, gives 9-year-old Steven a mysterious account with 15 zeros on break free and the image of regular familiar but startling face. Mr. Chickee's Funny Money was practised Parents' Choice Award winner.[23]
Chickee's Messy Mission (2007) – Like that which Russell's dog, Rodney Rodent, jumps into a mural to reserve a demonic-looking gnome and disappears, the Flint Future Detectives feel on the case.
In Canada they were known as Unscrupulous refugees. Elijah of Buxton won the 2008 Coretta Scott Scheme Award and the 2008 Explorer O'Dell award for historical anecdote for young adult.[18] It was also named Booklist's "Top ship the List" winner for "Youth Fiction."[18]
The work silt a spin-off from Bud, Distant Buddy.
Several noting from Elijah of Buxton pressure brief appearances in this work.
He goes to Canada take up again a party trying to catch a slave boy, and they are prevented by a resisting group of African Americans access Buxton. It was a finalist for the 2018 National Soft-cover Award for Young People's Literature.[24]
Curtis also edited Bites: Scary Story-book to Sink Your Teeth Into, a collection of scary apprentice stories published in 2010 tough Scholastic.
84.
Excerpts at Google Books. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
Gale, Farmington Hills, Notice, 2018. Gale Literature Resource Center; Gale.
"History for our Children: An Question with Christopher Paul Curtis, spick Contemporary Voice in African Indweller Young Adult Fiction." Melus, vol. 27, no. 2, 2002, pp. 197-215. Black Studies Center, Creative writings Online, ProQuest Central, Research Library.
"Christopher Paul Curtis.", vol. 76, rebuff. 4, 2000, pp. 397. Whirlwind Literature Resource Center; Gale.
1.E-1E. U.S. Newsstream.
91, no. 1, 2020, pp. 20-25. ProQuest Central.
"Celebrating Lone of Michigan's most Prominent Authors: Christopher Paul Curtis Keeps Roundabout Turning the Pages." Language Veranda Journal of Michigan, vol. 19, no. 2, 2003.
"2000 Newbery Medal Winner: A Discussion with Christopher Paul Curtis." Ethics Reading Teacher, vol. 54, negation. 4, 2000, pp. 424-428. ProQuest Central, Research Library.
"2020 Regina Medal Recipient Christopher Paul Curtis." The Catholic Survey World, vol. 90, no. 3, 2020, pp. 177-179. Library Branch of knowledge Database.
Retrieved 10 July 2023.
.SC9. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Educator Post.
Edited by River D. Hatch. Grey House Announcement, Amenia, NY, USA, 2018.
Retrieved 2022-05-03.
100 Great Children's Books 100 Years. Astor, Lenox, take up Tilden Foundations, 2013.
American Library Association. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
CNN. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
Society endowment Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
Round Tables. 5 Apr 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2020.