Chautauqua Institution today announced the appointment of ​#1 New York Times Bestselling Author ​Kwame Alexander to the role of Michael I. Rudell Artistic Director of Literary Arts. Alexander will also serve as​ the Inaugural​ Writer-in-Residence at Chautauqua. A poet, educator, publisher, ​and Emmy-nominated producer, ​ Alexander is​ ​​the author of​ 40 books, ​including ​Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir ;​​​ ​​The Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor-winning picture book The Undefeated , illustrated by Kadir Nelson;​ Becoming Muhammad Ali, co-authored with James Patterson; and the Newbery Medal-winning middle grade novel, The [...] read more

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominations for the 2^nd Annual Children’s & Family Emmy® Awards . The Crossover received two nominations, in the categories of Young Teen Series and Writing for a Young Teen Program! Congratulations to the entire production team, cast, and crew of The Crossover series, streaming now on Disney+ ! [...] read more

Honored and thrilled to share that Kwame Alexander and Damani Johnson received a 2023 Humanitas award nomination for The Crossover ("X's & O's" episode), in the category of Children's teleplay (live-action or animation)! Since 1974, The Humanitas Prizes have been awarded to honor professional film and television writers whose work exemplifies the art of screenwriting while exploring the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way. Congratulations to the entire production team, cast, and crew of The Crossover series, streaming [...] read more

Heading back out on the road for a series of upcoming events. If you're planning to be in Atlanta, Chatauqua, or Martha's Vineyard, we'd love to see you! Saturday, July 29 National Book Club Conference 11:00am ETAtlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel & Conference CenterAtlanta, GA Wednesday, August 2 Chautauqua Institution Lecture Series 10:45am ETChautauqua AmphitheatreChautauqua, NY Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6 Martha's Vineyard Book Festival Chilmark Community Center Festival GroundsMartha's Vineyard, MA 2:30pm ET, Sat. [...] read more

I’m going on a world tour…AGAIN! And, I’ll be talking about the thing my dad says I love to talk about the most. Me. Oh my. Seriously though, this book is different from anything I’ve ever written. It’s my memoir, Why Fathers Cry at Night . I’ll be sharing stories on tour about longing, love, and loss, discussing the lessons we’ve learned - and unlearned - and the ones we are still [...] read more

Based on the critically-acclaimed best-selling novel in-verse by Kwame Alexander, “The Crossover” introduces teen brothers Josh and Jordan Bell, widely considered basketball phenoms. Through his lyrical poetry, an adult version of Josh, aka Filthy McNasty, narrates the story of he and his brother’s coming of age, on and off the court, as their former professional basketball player father adjusts to life after basketball, and their mother finally pursues lifelong dreams of her own. Streaming April 5 on Disney+ Check out the trailer below or watch here [...] read more

"A story not of Black America but of America, a history we all must own. " Nikole Hannah-Jones, award-winning journalist and creator of “The 1619 Project,” reviews An American Story for the New York Times . Read the full review here (note, subscription may be required to access). "They see books as mirrors. " Kwame Alexander recently spoke with ABC News' Linsey Davis about An American Story and how this work, with art by Dare Coulter, addresses slavery [...] read more

January 3 at 12 Noon EST Key West, FLKwame will do a live reading from Books & BooksStreaming live at Facebook. com/KwameAlexanderBooks January 5 at 6:30 pm EST Raleigh, NCKwame Alexander and illustrator Dare Coulter in Conversation Quail Ridge Books January 10 at 7:00 pm EST Jacksonville, FLWith Kwame Alexander and illustrator Dare Coulter Jacksonville Public Library, Main Branch, located next to James Weldon Johnson Park. 303 N Laura St, Jacksonville, FL [...] read more

A powerful and provocative collection of poems that cut to the heart of the entrenched racism and oppression in America and eloquently explores ongoing events. A book in the tradition of James Baldwin’s “A Report from Occupied Territory,” Light for the World to See is a rap session on race. A lyrical response to the struggles of Black lives in our world . . . to America’s crisis of conscience . . . to the centuries of loss, endless resilience, and unstoppable hope. Support your local bookstore by ordering [...] read more

Kwame's TED Talk Kwame on Bookish [...] read more

Versify, the publishing imprint founded by Kwame Alexander is proud to celebrate our 2020 Award Winners. Vamos : Let's Go to the Market by Raul the III (Pura Belpre Illustrator Award and Massachusetts and Massachusetts Book Award) Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternak (Sidney Taylor Jewish Book Award Honor) White Rose by Kip Wilson (Massachusetts Book Award Honor) Emmy in the Key of Code by Aimee Lucido (ILA Children’s and Young Adult book award for Intermediate Fiction) The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson (Caldecott Medal, Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award) [...] read more

Co-authored with the world's best-selling novelist, James Patterson, Becoming Muhammad Ali is about the childhood of Cassius Clay, and it's a knockout. In bookstores and libraries everywhere. Support your local bookstore by ordering HERE Click HERE for Barnes & Noble or HERE for Books-a-Million. Watch Kwame and James on The Today Show A stellar collaboration that introduces an important [...] read more

Mixtape #52 Howl [...] read more