Walter Dean Myers  Born August 12, 1937 in West Virginia  Raised in Harlem, New York City  Currently lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Slides:



Advertisements
Similar presentations
A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L’Engle. What is the story about? A Wrinkle in Time is the story of a high-school girl named Meg who is thrust into an incredible.
Advertisements

By Walter Dean Myers. Walter Dean Myers (born Walter Milton Myers, August 12, 1937) is an African American writer of children's books best known for.
Herman Melville Biography. Place of birth Date of birth New York, NY August 1, 1819.
Newbery Medal Winner “Avi” by Jennifer Hemsath The End of the Beginning: Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (And an Even Smaller Ant )
Arnold Lobel Arnold Lobel is my favorite author. Memories Mr. Lobel was born in Los Angeles, CA He was born on May 22, 1933 Mr. Lobel grew up in New York.
(www. Google images) I. Childhood a. Born in Joplin, Missouri in 1902 b. Parents divorced when he was very young.
Annie Hoffman, Kelton Myers, & Erin Simmons
James Langston Hughes By: Chelsea Going. James Langston Hughes.
John Steinbeck One of our great California writers.
About Edgar Allan Poe - Born January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts - He was orphaned when his mother died shortly after his father abandoned the family.
Walter Dean Myers 1937-present. As a child Born in 1937 in West Virginia in the midst of the Great Depression. His mother died when he was a toddler.
H810G Author Presentations Rose Wongsarnpigoon, Megan Chamberlain and Hui Xin Tan.
By: Dalton Wademan WALTER DEAN MYERS. Walter’s Childhood Walter was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia on Thursday, August 12, At birth his name.
Book Awards. The Coretta Scott King Awards are presented annually by the American Library Association to honor African-American authors and illustrators.
Langston Hughes Langston Hughes Early Life §was born February 1, 1902 §parents divorced when he was young §raised by his grandmother until age of 13.
WALTER DEAN MYERS HARLEM RENAISSANCE MAN. Born: August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia Given name: Walter Milton Myers (given away at birth, adopted.
Choice Books English 9A. Choice Books The choice book will be the book you read during SSR from now until the end of the trimester. You will have FOUR.
Joseph Bruchac By: Amanda Burleson. The Early Years Joseph Bruchac was born October 16, 1942 in Saratoga Springs, New York. Joseph’s father was of Slovak.
English 7: Introduction to Crash
Keats Jack Keats Born: March 11, 1916, Died: May 6, 1983.
“To encourage the artistic expression of the African American experience via literature and the graphic arts, including biographical, historical and social.
Robert Frost The American Voice…. Background Born March 26, 1874 Grew up in San Francisco, California Favorite pass time as a child was playing baseball.
The story of Langston Hughes By: Stefan Edmiston
 Born: September 20, Baltimore, Maryland  Died: Nov , Bound Brook, New Jersey  He taught himself to read at age 5.  His father moved.
Edgar Allen Poe.
Author Study Mrs. Matlak’s Second Grade
When Greg Ridley wanders into an empty apartment building, he meets Lemon Brown, a homeless man who reveals that he has a treasure. What will Greg and.
10/16/2015 Short Story Author Biographies Mrs. Dianne Cline 7 th grade GRC Oak Mountain Middle School Shelby County Schools.
Richard Dudeck Young Adult Literature December 8, 2010.
Edgar Allan Poe by Amanda Roberts The Life of Edgar Allan Poe Born in Boston in 1809 to Elizabeth Arnold Poe and David Poe. Born in Boston in 1809 to.
Famous People Have you ever read this book? Who is the writer?
COWLEY, Joy ( ) PowerPoint 12.1.
Background. Poe’s Childhood Poe lost both of his parents at an early age. His mother, Eliza, was an actress who died of Tuberculous when Edgar was not.
Education In African American Literature. Gwendolyn Brooks  ; born in Topeka, Kansas  Began publishing poetry at 17  Published first widely.
LANGSTON HUGHES Honors English 11. Early Life Born James Mercer Langston Hughes on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri His parents divorced when he was.
Michael Faraday. Michael Faraday was born on 22 nd September 1791 He was the youngest out of 4 children His mother was called Margaret and his father.
(December 30,1865, Bombay - January 18,1936, London)
Jacqueline Woodson Author. Biography  Born on February 12, 1963 in Columbus, Ohio, spend early life in Greenville, South Carolina.  Grew up in Brooklyn,
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee An introduction to the novel and the author.
Edgar Allan Poe By: Kaleen Lewis. Childhood  Edgar Poe was born in Boston on January 19,  His parents were David and Elizabeth Poe.  Elizabeth.
Langston Hughes.  Born in Joplin, Missouri  Raised by his grandma until he was 13  Moved in with his mother and attended high school in.
RALPH ELLISON March 1, 1914 – April 16, Background  Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – frontier state with no history of slavery, modern view 
Harlem’s Poet Laureate
Dorothy West The Typewriter By Mallory Edrich. Dorothy West  She was born on June,2,1907 in Boston, Massachusetts  She was the daughter of a freed slave.
Chris Van Allsburg Biography
William Steig Shelly Speagle Mary Turner William Steig
By: Shakeric Fennell Ms. Sasser 1 st block American Studies/Adv. English 11.
Langston Hughes. Introduction Langston Hughes was born in 1902, in Joplin Missouri. He was a poet, and he was renowned for his advocacy in equality. He.
EDGAR ALLAN POE Author Study. A LIFE OF TRAGEDY AND MYSTERY Born Edgar Poe Born Edgar Poe Boston, January 19, 1809 Boston, January 19, 1809 Son and second.
INTRO TO AUTHOR WALTER DEAN MYERS. BIRTH  August 12, 1937  Martinsburg, WV  George &
Literature for Adolescents Jessica Dockter Fall 2009.
Eudora Welty Project by: Jessica Lineberry. Background: Family Welty was born on April 13, 1909 in Jackson, Mississippi and died on July 23, 2001 in Jackson,
Monster Class Notes Revised 2007© Copyright. Academic Year , by M. Baltsas. (
Toni Morrison By: Aaron Gibbs & Mitch Downing Help Received: Internet, Class Notes.
Louise ErDrich Author Presentation by : Brooke White American Literature 1865 to present English 2205 Summer / Dr. Carter.
David Shannon Award winning author and illustrator “Fairy dust is very useful. I use it to turn oatmeal into cake.”
Author Presentation Rebecca Thibeault English 2205.
A BIOGRAPHY OF ISAAC ASIMOV Isaac Asimov was an American scientist and a writer who wrote around 480 books that including mystery stories, science and.
Walter Dean Myers  Born August 12, 1937 in West Virginia  Raised in Harlem, New York City  Died July 1, 2014 in New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three.
Sir Walter Scott
Slam! By Walter Dean Myers
Brenda Woods Biography
Edgar Allen Poe.
Cynthia Rylant “Checkouts”
Walter Dean Myers A Man of Many Words.
A biography of Isaac Asimov
Presentation transcript:

Walter Dean Myers  Born August 12, 1937 in West Virginia  Raised in Harlem, New York City  Currently lives in Jersey City, New Jersey

Early Life Born in Martinsburg, West Virginia in 1937 Mother died when he was 2 yrs. old Moved to Harlem after being “adopted” by Florence and Herbert Dean at age three

Family At age 4 mother taught him to read Father told “scary” stories Grandfather told “God gonna get ya” kind of stories

Family Considered the Deans his “real” parents Writes about surrogate parenting

Starting School With the ability to read Head full of stories Severe speech impediment Became a behavior problem 5 th grade teacher told him to write and gave him decent books to read

Harlem Grew up in the 40s and 50s Sunday morning Bible school Afternoons at the park, activities at church Famous Afro-Americans still lived there Remembers his years in Harlem before adolescence as good years

Adolescence Placed in accelerated junior high school program Stuyvesant High School Teacher Bonnie Liebow Spent more time out of school Wrote stories and poems Acquired first typewriter

Young Adulthood Thought family’s finances ruled out college Fell into gang culture Dropped out of high school twice At 17 joined the army

Life After the Army “Starving artist” period back in Harlem Job in post office Married and divorced Attended City College and a writer’s workshop at Columbia University Worked at various jobs

Beginning of a Career 1968 Where Does the Day Go? wins first prize in Council on Interracial books for Children Contest 1969 published by Parents’ Magazine 1970 becomes senior editor for Bobbs-Merrill In 1972 with The Dancers pays tribute to his foster parents and changes name 1977 became full-time writer

Variety of Genre Poetry Short Stories Children’s Books Young Adult Fiction Historical Fiction Non-Fiction

Poetry Began writing poems in Ms. Conway’s 5 th grade class Hasn’t stopped writing since

Children’s Books  Picture books  Juvenile fiction

Young Adult Fiction Realistic urban novels Mystery and adventure Critically acclaimed works

On Being a Young Adult Author “The young adult and middle grade periods of my life were so vivid and, in looking back, so influential in how I would live the rest of my life, that I am drawn to [them] over and over again.” “My ideas come largely from my own background.” “I lived in Harlem, and I write about Harlem.”

Themes Friendships and peer relations Family Individual and social responsibility Love Growing up Finding oneself

Historical Fiction Writes from his own background Enjoys history

Non-Fiction Magazine pieces Children’s books Biographies Historical

Myers and Myers Son Christopher illustrated several of his father’s books

Books I Have Read Fallen Angels Scorpions Harlem Blues Journey Handbook for Boys Malcolm X The Glory Field 145 th Street Stories Monster

Major Awards ALA Best Books for Young Adults ALA Margaret A. Edwards Award  for lifetime achievement ALA Notable Books ALAN Award  for outstanding contributions to the field of young adult literature Caldecott Honor Book Coretta Scott King Award Michael L. Prinz Award National Book Award Finalist Newberry Honor Book Parents’ Choice Award

Myers Today Helped establish The Walter Dean Myers Publishing Institute  part of the Langston Hughes Children’s Literature Festival NBA’s "Read to Achieve" program Lives with his wife Connie in Jersey City, NJ