Awards
2020 Winner of the Caldecott Medal
2020 Winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Award for Illustration From Powells.com
Staff recommendations, guest essays, and curated reading lists.
Synopses & Reviews
The Newbery Award-winning author of
The Crossover pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree.
Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.
Review
"[A] poignant and powerful ode to the resilience and strength of black life and history in America....Alexander and Nelson present an exceptionally moving and triumphant work. This book is an essential first purchase." School Library Journal (Starred Review)
Review
"[T]his magnificent anthem to the courage and genius of black Americans has been turned into a picture book with stunning portraits by Nelson....communicating clearly that when black lives matter, America is stronger." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Review
"[A] powerful tribute to the African-American experience, replete with joy and pride in the accomplishments of individual artists and athletes, leaders, and thinkers....” New York Times Book Review
About the Author
Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and the
New York Times bestselling author of 28 books, including
Rebound, the follow-up to his, Newbery medal-winning middle grade novel,
The Crossover. Some of his other works include
Booked, which was longlisted for the National Book Award,
The Playbook: 52 Rules to Help You Aim, Shoot, and Score in this Game of Life,
Swing, and the picture books,
Out of Wonder and
The Undefeated, which was longlisted for the National Book Award, and won the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award.
A regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, The NCTE/Charlotte Huck Honor, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. He believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people around the world through The Write Thing, his K-12 Writing Workshop. Kwame is the founder of Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
www.kwamealexander.com
Twitter: @kwamealexander
Instagram: @kwamealexander
Kadir Nelson is a two-time Caldecott Honor recipient. Among his other awards are an NAACP Image Award, and the 2009 and 2014 Coretta Scott King Author Award. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and The New Yorker. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
www.kadirnelson.com
Twitter: @kadirnelson
Instagram:@kadirnelson