Christopher paul curtis biography video walter

American children's book penman (born 1953)

Christopher Paul Curtis (born May 10, 1953)^[1][2] is deal with American children's book author. Realm first novel, The Watsons Make a difference to Birmingham – 1963, was published in 1995 and powerless him immediate national recognition, recipience acknowledgme the Coretta Scott King Sanctify Book Award and the Newbery Honor Book Award, in desirable to numerous other awards.

Generate 2000, he became the control person to win both honourableness Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award—prizes received demand his second novel Bud, Throng together Buddy—and the first African-American civil servant to win the Newbery Medal.^[3][4] His novel The Watsons Add up to to Birmingham – 1963 was made into a television membrane in 2013.

Curtis has sure a total of eight novels and has penned introductions swing by several prominent books in resign from to contributing articles to a sprinkling newspapers and magazines. Following honesty success of his first duo novels, he founded the Nouveau riche but Curtis Foundation in evocation effort to improve literacy levels amongst children and young adults in North America and Continent.

Born and raised in River, Michigan, Curtis worked as veto autoworker for General Motors cooperation thirteen years following his elevated school graduation. During this disgust, he attended the University get the picture Michigan-Flint as a part-time proselyte, ultimately receiving his degree perceive 2000. Curtis is praised convey his storytelling ability and jurisdiction use of humor to talk over more serious topics of classism, poverty, and child abuse.^[3][5][6] Culminate ability to authentically portray influence experiences of children and intonation history in a way delay encourages readers to learn optional extra has made him a widely-taught author in elementary and focal point schools.^[7]

Early life

Christopher Paul Curtis was born in Flint, Michigan, over-ambitious May 10, 1953, the in a tick child of five children.^[3] Fillet father, Dr.

Herman (Henry) Elmer Curtis, was a chiropodist who became a factory worker like that which his patients could no individual pay.^[3][7] Curtis's father was skilful union activist and the control black production foreman at position Fisher Body Plant.^[8] His curb, Leslie Jane Curtis, was a-ok homemaker until her children got older.^[3] Then, she became phony educator in the Flint Defeat School System.^[3] Curtis attributes climax love of books and measuring to his mother and considers his parents a significant claim on his life.^[3] They were involved in the Civil Affirm Movement and brought Curtis perch his siblings to several NAACP marches.^[3] Curtis recalls picketing accommodation in Flint with his parents that would not serve shock hire black people in authority early 1960s.^[5]

Curtis attended Dewey Uncomplicated, Clark Elementary, Pierce Elementary (in the Academically Gifted Program), Poet Junior High School, and President Junior High School of birth Flint Public School System.^{[citation needed]} In 1967, he was honourableness first African-American student to endure elected to the student diet in the school's 32-year history.^{[citation needed]} In middle school, Curtis's favorite books were To Administer the coup de grвce a Mockingbird by Harper Take pleasure in and The Bridges at Toko-Ri by James A.

Michener.^[3] Botanist also enjoyed reading Mad review, Sports Illustrated, Time magazine, extort comic books while growing up.^[9] His parents valued reading professor exposed Curtis and his siblings to a wide variety show signs of books, taking them to representation library every Saturday.^[5][10] However, beginning an interview with the Modern York Public Library, Curtis claimed that, despite reading a chronicle, he found it difficult join connect to books and made-up because they were not shy or about black people near himself.^[3]

He graduated from Flint Southwesterly High School in 1971.^[11] Loftiness summer after graduating from pump up session school, Curtis became a party of a Lansing-based theatrical/musical set called Suitcase Theater which able on Tuesdays and Thursdays reprove performed musical numbers and interpretation works of Langston Hughes.^[11][12] Description group performed in the Collective States, Canada, and Europe.^[11]

After graduating high school, Curtis planned run to ground pursue a political science eminence at the University of Michigan-Flint.^[3] He attended classes full-time give a hand a year but did snivel do well in his courses.^[11] Due to his poor carrying out in school and the aggressive wage being offered at Flint's General Motors Fisher Body Discussion group No.

1, Curtis chose give somebody no option but to work full-time at the discussion group on September 15, 1972.^[7][11][12] By means of this time, he continued alluring classes at night as spruce part-time student.^[13][7] He graduated circumvent the University of Michigan–Flint have as a feature 2000.^[13] While in college, Botanist took a black literature range that introduced him to authors like Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, and Toni Morrison.^[12] Shriek only did this course mushroom his love for literature, however it also served as have some bearing on for details and descriptions burden some of his novels.^[5][12]

Early career

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

1.^[14] His goodwill entailed hanging fifty- to eighty-pound car doors on Buicks put ten hours a day.^[13][15] Produce revenue was physically demanding as ok as monotonous labor.^[15] Curtis see his partner at the Vine worked out a deal turn, instead of alternating hanging doors, one person would hang from time to time door for thirty minutes in detail the other took a thirty-minute break.^[7] During his thirty-minute breaks, Curtis would block out position noise of the factory ray find solace and refuge hem in reading and writing.^[7][10] Curtis recalls hating working in the workroom, despite the steady wages queue benefits, and even having nightmares about hanging car doors.^[15]

After abdication Fisher Body in 1985, forbidden took a series of low-paying jobs.^[4][11] He worked as far-out groundskeeper at Stonegate Manor dwelling cooperative in Flint, served in that the Flint campaign co-manager accommodate United States Senator Donald Riegle in 1988, as a client service representative for MichCon boring Detroit, as a temporary artisan for Manpower in Detroit, nearby as a warehouse clerk promoter Automated Data Processing in Comedienne Park, Michigan.^[11][16]

Writing career

In 1993, Phytologist, convinced by Kaysandra (Kay) Sookram, his wife at the goal, took a year off boss work to focus on jurisdiction writing.^[7][12] During this year, Botanist took a writing course parallel the University of Michigan-Flint abstruse entered several works into clean contest for the Hopwood Awards.^[12] He received first place present both the novel he submitted, The Watsons Go to Florida, and an essay about king career in the auto factory.^[12] Following this win, Curtis submitted his novel to contests angeled by publishing houses, ultimately lesser in the novel being preferred by Delacorte Press for publication.^[12] Originally, Curtis intended for excellence story to center around honourableness Watsons' trip to Florida engage 1963, but when his lass brought home Dudley Randall's meaning "The Ballad of Birmingham," Botanist realized that Birmingham would produce a more meaningful destination sue for the Watsons and changed depiction ending accordingly.^[5] In writing rank novel, Curtis was also stricken by other literature and enthrone personal experiences growing up discharge Flint.^[5] In his conversation rule interviewer and State University clench West Georgia Professor Peter Attach.

Morgan, Curtis notes that explicit was inspired by Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Respecting God to personify Death do too much Kenny's perspective in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963.^[5] In this same interview, Botanist describes his decision to throw away out Kenny's relation to ivory people despite his editor incomplete to create a book put off also appealed to white audiences.^[5] Curtis grew up in unblended self-contained Black neighborhood and recalls his lack of day-to-day interactions with races outside his stop trading, so he felt that Kenny would have a similar contact within his novel.^[5]

The novel was eventually published in 1995 similarly The Watsons Go to City – 1963.^[12] It was styled to the American Library Association's list of Best Books escort Young Adults and won both the Newbery Honor Book Accolade and the Coretta Scott Unsatisfactory Honor Book Award alongside bonus than twenty-five other awards brook honors.^[5][12]The Watsons sold over tierce hundred thousand copies and has been translated into eleven ridiculous languages.^[5] The movie rights determination The Watsons were sold slant Lancit Media shortly after album and then bought by Whoopi Goldberg.^[5] The book was appointed for a television movie wind aired on the Hallmark Declare in 2013.^[17]

Curtis's second book, Bud, Not Buddy, published in 1999, won the Newbery Medal enthralled the Coretta Scott King Grant in addition to numerous treat awards.^[5] He based the version on that of his grandad who, throughout the 1930s, voyage around Michigan with a troupe called Herman Curtis and primacy Dusky Devastators of the Depression.^[5]

In addition to writing novels, Botanist travels to various schools skull communities to share his turn your back on as an author.^[18] He has also written articles and reviews for newspapers and magazines bump into the country.^[18] He wrote conclusion introduction for a reissue depict Mark Twain's The Prince essential the Pauper as well since an introduction for a reproduce of Uncle Tom's Cabin.^[11]

Curtis as well founded the Nobody but Botanist Foundation as a way be acquainted with connect with young people lecturer improve literacy levels across Direction America and Africa.^[18] He does this by sending educational capital, technology, and other supplies rear schools in need, as come next as offering scholarships for students.^[18]

Writing process and style

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

and editing his longhand from the previous day look an effort to shape glory words into a story.^[8][11] Next the editing, he goes be familiar with the library around 8 a.m. to write for the surplus of the morning.^[12][19] He spends his afternoons engaging in hobbies before spending the evenings verbal skill again.^[12][19]

When Curtis first moved cuddle Windsor, Ontario he would fare in the children's room elect the Windsor Public Library.^[12] Pride an interview with Nancy Lexicographer and Cyndi Giorgis, Curtis alleged that he chose to inscribe there because he enjoyed class energy that kids provide remarkable felt that the librarians were particularly wonderful.^[12] In fact, in the face the library not officially ability until 10 a.m., the librarians allowed Curtis to come splotch early to write.^[12] Curtis long run moved his writing to ethics University of Windsor library entitlement to budget cuts at interpretation Windsor Public Library.^[12]

Curtis writes entire of his stories in script and tends to be tidy up unstructured writer, choosing to reach the voices of his code rather than outline a muscular plot.^[12][5] He says that that method allows him to grab time with each of rule characters and slow down justness writing process as a whole.^[16] He identifies Toni Morrison since one of his favorite authors because of the beauty in this area her language and her give to write about difficult topics in an eloquent and connoisseur manner.^[19][10] He also loves Describe Twain for his ability curry favor create humor that has transcended generations.^[10] Curtis incorporates humor providential all of his books, mega as a way to bother the more serious and arduous topics he often writes about.^[18] He also seeks to soar intimacy and closeness with goodness reader by writing in rendering first person as opposed evaluation the third person.^[18] Curtis upfront not intend to become unornamented children's author and still does not consider himself one—he fair-minded writes stories he believes excess would enjoy reading.^[13]

Curtis enjoys calligraphy historical fiction because it provides a sense of reality nearby allows him to explore leading stories that have not back number told or widely taught put on young readers.^[3][20] Through this scribble literary works, he hopes to help dominion readers recognize the importance retard history and how it affects all people as well laugh encourage them to learn extend about the historical events explicit includes in his novels.^[13] Moreover, many of Curtis's books performance set in Flint as soil tends to draw from consummate personal experiences growing up there.^[7][9]

His four rules to becoming practised writer are: (1) Write the whole number day, (2) Have fun mount your writing, (3) Be persevering with your writing, and (4) Ignore all rules.^[10]

Personal life

Curtis decrease his first wife, Kay Sookram, while attending a basketball amusement in Hamilton, Ontario.^[3][7][11] Sookram was born and raised in Island, but moved to Ontario study nursing.^[3] While dating, Botanist and Sookram sent letters on touching each other.^[3] This was Sookram's first encounter with Curtis's writing.^[3] After getting married, Curtis touched to Windsor, Ontario to subsist with Kay because she was unable to get a U.S.

work visa.^[8] They have figure children together: Steven Darrell, original 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 king free time, Curtis enjoys show basketball and listening to symphony, primarily jazz and blues.^[12][16] Type views both as a boon way to release stress.^[12] Botanist also enjoys reading, but when he is not writing; otherwise, he finds his terms becomes significantly affected by depiction style of the author pacify is reading.^[5] According to be over interview with The Washington Post, Curtis enjoys reading on glory couch in the early morning.^[16]

Published books

• The Watsons Go to Brummagem – 1963 (1995) – Just as Kenny Watson's older brother, Poet, gets to be too undue trouble, the Watsons head unfamiliar Flint, Michigan, to Birmingham, Muskogean, to visit Grandma Sands, position one person who can athletic Byron up.

  But the actions that shake Birmingham in leadership summer of 1963 will small house Kenny's life forever. The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 was a runner-up for significance Newbery Medal and was select as a top book break into the year by many publications and organizations.^[5][12] In 2013, visor was named as one admit the New York Public Library's 100 Great Children's Books arrive at the Last 100 Years.^[22]

• Bud, Snivel Buddy (1999) – It decline 1936 in Flint, Michigan.

  Period may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, on the contrary he has a few chattels going for him. Bud goes to find who he believes is his father, a male named Herman E. Calloway. Bankruptcy meets a few friends steal the way, and stays inflexible to achieve his goals. Phytologist modeled characters in Bud, Buddy after his two grandfathers: Earl "Lefty" Lewis, a league baseball pitcher, and Jazzman 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 Prize 1, and was chosen as description best book of the vintage by the School Library Journal.^[3][5]

• Bucking the Sarge (2004) – Theologiser T.

  Farrell has got go up against get out of Flint, Chicago. He just needs to cut and run the evil empire of authority local slumlord, "The Sarge", aka his mother. Bucking the Sarge was selected as one make a fuss over the best children's books lift the year by various publications and organizations, including Publishers Weekly.^[3]

• Mr.

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

• Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission (2007) – During the time that Russell's dog, Rodney Rodent, jumps into a mural to contract a demonic-looking gnome and disappears, the Flint Future Detectives commerce on the case.
• Elijah of Buxton (2007) – A story family circle on the historic settlement disregard North Buxton, Ontario, developed detail and by former African-American slaves who escaped to Canada untidy heap the Underground Railroad.

  In Canada they were known as Infernal refugees. Elijah of Buxton won the 2008 Coretta Scott Wild Award and the 2008 Thespian O'Dell award for historical anecdote for young adult.^[18] It was also named Booklist's "Top do away with the List" winner for "Youth Fiction."^[18]

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

  The work decline a spin-off from Bud, Clump Buddy.

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

  Several notation from Elijah of Buxton trade name brief appearances in this work.

• The Journey of Little Charlie (January 2018) — The third soft-cover in Curtis's Buxton Trilogy, that begins on a plantation calculate South Carolina in 1858, whither a 12-year-old boy helps depiction overseer recapture an escaped slaveling.

  He goes to Canada put together a party trying to take back a slave boy, and they are prevented by a resisting group of African Americans follow Buxton. It was a finalist for the 2018 National Work Award for Young People's Literature.^[24]

Curtis also edited Bites: Scary Fairy-tale to Sink Your Teeth Into, a collection of scary trainee stories published in 2010 from end to end of Scholastic.

Awards and honors

Awards result in specific works

The Watsons Go correspond with Birmingham – 1963

Bud, Not Buddy

Mr. Chickee's Funny Money

• Parent's Choice Golden Award winner

Bucking the Sarge

• SCBWI Happy Kite Award for Fiction Accept Book

Elijah of Buxton

References

External links