Shorter Bio

Kwame Alexander is an Emmy® Award-winning producer, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of 44 books, including Why Fathers Cry at Night, How Sweet The Sound, The Door of No Return (2025 Audie Award Winner), The Undefeated, the National Book Award nominee, Newbery Honor, and Caldecott Medal-winning picture book illustrated by Kadir Nelson, and The Crossover, his Newbery Medal-winning novel turned Disney+ TV series. His forthcoming books include J vs. K, an illustrated novel he penned with Jerry Craft, and the motivational primer for graduates, creatives and professionals entitled Say Yes. He is the executive producer of the new PBS animated series, Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, based on his beloved children's book of the same name. A recipient of the 2025 NAACP Image Award, Kwame is also founder of AuthorStudy.com and is the Michael I. Rudell Artistic Director of Literary Arts for Chautauqua Literary Arts. He regularly shares his passion for literacy, books and the craft of writing around the world, including Ghana, West Africa, where he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic. His mission is to change the world - one word at a time.