Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, producer and #1 New York Times Bestselling author of 37 books, including AN AMERICAN STORY, THE DOOR OF NO RETURN, and his Newbery-winning book THE CROSSOVER. In this episode, Annmarie and Kwame talk about shooting and missing, and how you have to keep playing the game and always keep taking your shot. They also discuss teaching difficult histories to young children and how to change the world one word at a time.
Episode Sponsors:
Brain Lair Books – A black-owned, woman-owned children's bookstore located in South Bend, Indiana. At Brain Lair, we partner with local schools and universities to help build an inclusive, welcoming community. We specialize in juvenile and young adult literature written by and for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+, and Disabled communities, as well as adult nonfiction about ending white supremacy, promoting anti-racism, and becoming a social activist. We can help you find the books you need. Drop by or browse online at brainlairbooks.com.
Literary Cleveland – Developing writers, amplifying voices, and transforming our community through storytelling. At Literary Cleveland, you can explore other voices and discover your own. Search for classes and find your creative community at litcleveland.org.
A Selection of Books by Kwame Alexander:
An American Story, illustrated by Dare Coulter
The Door of No Return
The Crossover
Rebound (The Crossover Series)
Booked (The Crossover Series)
Solo, with Mary Rand Hess
Swing, with Mary Rand Hess
Becoming Muhammad Ali, co-authored with James Patterson
The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life
The Undefeated, co-authored with Kadir Nelson
Acoustic Rooster's Barnyard Boogie Starring Indigo Blume
He Said, She Said
Pre-order Kwame’s new memoir Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir in Love Poems, Recipes, Letters, and Remembrances
Other Titles Discussed in this Episode:
The Trees, by Percival Everett
I Am Not Sidney Poitier, by Percival Everett
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
Here’s the trailer for the Disney adaptation of Kwame Alexander’s Newbery-winning story, The Crossover.
Follow Kwame:
Twitter: @kwamealexander
Instagram: @kwamealexander
Facebook: @KwameAlexanderBooks
kwamealexander.com