Kwame alexander biography

American writer of poetry and children's fiction (born 1968)

For the basketball player, see Kwame Alexander (basketball).

Kwame Alexander (born August 21, 1968) is an American writer of poetry and children's fiction.

Personal life and education

Alexander was born in Manhattan, New York, and grew up in Virginia.^[1] His father was a scholar and book publisher and his mother was an educator, so he was always surrounded by books.

Alexander attended Virginia Tech, where he began premedical studies before taking a writing class with award-winning poet^[2]Nikki Giovanni.^[3] On May 11, 2024, Alexander received an honorary doctorate degree from American University in Washington, DC.^[4]

Books

Alexander's picture book Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band was selected for the 2014 "Michigan Reads!

One State, One Children's Book" program.^[5] He won a 2020 Newbery Honor for his illustrated poem The Undefeated