Christopher Paul Curtis
Encyclopedia
Christopher Paul Curtis (born May 10, 1953) is an American children's author
and a Newbery Medal
winner who wrote The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 and the critically acclaimed Bud, Not Buddy
. Bud, Not Buddy is the first novel to receive both the Coretta Scott King Award
and the Newbery Medal. His newest book, entitled Elijah of Buxton
(winner of the Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and a Newbery Honor) is set in a free Black community in Ontario
that was founded in 1849 by runaway slaves.
on May 10, 1953 to Dr. Herman Elmer Curtis, a chiropodist and factory worker/supervisor, and Leslie Jane Curtis, an educator. Curtis is an alumnus of the [University of Michigan] Flint Curtis is the father of two adult children from a previous marriage and a daughter, Ayaan Leslie, who was born in 2010 to Curtis and his wife, Habon. Christopher modeled characters in Bud, Not Buddy after his two grandfathers—Earl “Lefty” Lewis, a Negro league baseball
pitcher, and 1930s bandleader Herman E. Curtis, Sr., of Herman Curtis and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression.The city of Flint plays an important role in many of Curtis's books.]]..
The summer after graduating from high school Curtis became a member of a Lansing, Michigan based theatrical/musical group called Suitcase Theatre. The group was directed by Powell Lindsay and performed musical numbers and the works of Langston Hughes. Curtis toured and performed with the group in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, France, England, Canada, and the United States.
Curtis spent his first 13 years after high school on the assembly line of Flint’s historic Fisher Body Plant #1. His job entailed hanging car doors on Electra 225s and LeSabres, which, he later claimed, left him with an aversion to getting into large cars, particularly Buicks. After quitting Fisher Body Curtis took a series of low-paying jobs. He worked as a groundskeeper at Stonegate Manor housing cooperative in Flint, Flint campaign co-manager for United States senator Donald Reigle, customer service representative for Mich Con in Detroit, temporary worker for Manpower in Detroit, and warehouse clerk for Automated Data Processing in Allen Park, Michigan. Curtis took a year off of work to write his first novel, The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963. He wrote the novel in longhand in the Windsor Public Library.
Curtis has been a full-time author and lecturer/speaker since 1998.
In 2009 he received a Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa from the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
In 2009-2010 Curtis spent two semesters at the University of Michigan-Flint as the Myron and Margaret Winegarden Visiting Professor.
Bud, Not Buddy
- It's 1936, in Flint, Michigan. Times may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, but Bud's got a few things going for him.
Bucking the Sarge - Luther T. Farrell has got to get out of Flint, Michigan. He just needs to escape the evil empire of the local slumlord, his mother.
Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission - When Russell's dog, Rodney Rodent, jumps into a mural to chase a demonic-looking gnome and disappears, the Flint Future Detectives are on the case.
Mr. Chickee's Funny Money - Mr. Chickee, the genial blind man in the neighborhood, gives 9-year-old Steven a mysterious bill with 15 zeros on it and the image of a familiar but startling face.
Elijah of Buxton
(2007)
Curtis's next book is entitled The Mighty Miss Malone and is set in depression-era Gary, Indiana, and Flint, Michigan. The work is a spin-off from Bud, Not Buddy and is narrated by 12 year old Deza Malone.
Curtis has also written the introductions for the Aladdin Classics version of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, and the Modern Library edition of Mark Twain's The Prince And The Pauper.
BUD, NOT BUDDY.
MR. CHICKEE'S FUNNY MONEY
BUCKING THE SARGE
ELIJAH OF BUXTON
Christopher Paul Curtis appeared on The Tavis Smiley Show
on PBS on January 11, 2005.
His name has also been part of an answer on the long running quiz show "Jeopardy." The $1600 answer in the category "Hey Bud!" on January 13, 2005 was, "Christopher Paul Curtis won a Newbery medal in 2000 for his children's book, 'Bud, Not . . .' this." A teacher answered correctly.
He also appeared on The Today Show
Book Club to answer questions about his book with Al Roker
in 2007.
Curtis won the 2009 Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers' Literature, which honors a "nationally acclaimed author who has made a significant contribution to the field of literature and young adults".
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
and a Newbery Medal
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
winner who wrote The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 and the critically acclaimed Bud, Not Buddy
Bud, Not Buddy
Bud, Not Buddy is a 1999 children's novel by Christopher Paul Curtis. The book is the winner of the 2000 Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature, as well as the Coretta Scott King Award that is given in recognition of outstanding African-American authors.-Plot summary:Bud,...
. Bud, Not Buddy is the first novel to receive both the Coretta Scott King Award
Coretta Scott King Award
The Coretta Scott King Award is an annual award presented by the Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, part of the American Library Association...
and the Newbery Medal. His newest book, entitled Elijah of Buxton
Elijah of Buxton
Elijah of Buxton is a 2007 novel by Christopher Paul Curtis. It is his fourth book. It won the 00001Coretta Scott King Award, the 2008 Newbery Honor, the 2008 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and the 2008 Book of the Year for Children Award of the Canadian Library Association-Jacket...
(winner of the Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and a Newbery Honor) is set in a free Black community in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
that was founded in 1849 by runaway slaves.
Biography
Curtis was born in Flint, MichiganFlint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
on May 10, 1953 to Dr. Herman Elmer Curtis, a chiropodist and factory worker/supervisor, and Leslie Jane Curtis, an educator. Curtis is an alumnus of the [University of Michigan] Flint Curtis is the father of two adult children from a previous marriage and a daughter, Ayaan Leslie, who was born in 2010 to Curtis and his wife, Habon. Christopher modeled characters in Bud, Not Buddy after his two grandfathers—Earl “Lefty” Lewis, a Negro league baseball
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
pitcher, and 1930s bandleader Herman E. Curtis, Sr., of Herman Curtis and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression.The city of Flint plays an important role in many of Curtis's books.]]..
Education and Work
Curtis is a product of the Flint Public Schools system. He attended Dewey Elementary, Clark Elementary, Pierce Elementary (in the Academically Gifted Program),Whittier Junior High School, McKinley Junior High School, (where, in 1967 he became the first African-American student to be elected to student council in the school's 32 year history), and Flint Southwestern High School. Graduating from the University of Michigan-Flint in 1999, he received his bachelor's degree at the same ceremony where he was the commencement speaker.The summer after graduating from high school Curtis became a member of a Lansing, Michigan based theatrical/musical group called Suitcase Theatre. The group was directed by Powell Lindsay and performed musical numbers and the works of Langston Hughes. Curtis toured and performed with the group in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, France, England, Canada, and the United States.
Curtis spent his first 13 years after high school on the assembly line of Flint’s historic Fisher Body Plant #1. His job entailed hanging car doors on Electra 225s and LeSabres, which, he later claimed, left him with an aversion to getting into large cars, particularly Buicks. After quitting Fisher Body Curtis took a series of low-paying jobs. He worked as a groundskeeper at Stonegate Manor housing cooperative in Flint, Flint campaign co-manager for United States senator Donald Reigle, customer service representative for Mich Con in Detroit, temporary worker for Manpower in Detroit, and warehouse clerk for Automated Data Processing in Allen Park, Michigan. Curtis took a year off of work to write his first novel, The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963. He wrote the novel in longhand in the Windsor Public Library.
Curtis has been a full-time author and lecturer/speaker since 1998.
In 2009 he received a Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa from the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
In 2009-2010 Curtis spent two semesters at the University of Michigan-Flint as the Myron and Margaret Winegarden Visiting Professor.
Published works
The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 - When Kenny's 13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be too much trouble, the Watsons head from Flint, Michigan to Birmingham, Alabama to visit Grandma Sands, the one person who can shape Byron up. But the events that shake Birmingham in the September of 1963 will change Kenny's life forever.Bud, Not Buddy
Bud, Not Buddy
Bud, Not Buddy is a 1999 children's novel by Christopher Paul Curtis. The book is the winner of the 2000 Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature, as well as the Coretta Scott King Award that is given in recognition of outstanding African-American authors.-Plot summary:Bud,...
- It's 1936, in Flint, Michigan. Times may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, but Bud's got a few things going for him.
Bucking the Sarge - Luther T. Farrell has got to get out of Flint, Michigan. He just needs to escape the evil empire of the local slumlord, his mother.
Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission - When Russell's dog, Rodney Rodent, jumps into a mural to chase a demonic-looking gnome and disappears, the Flint Future Detectives are on the case.
Mr. Chickee's Funny Money - Mr. Chickee, the genial blind man in the neighborhood, gives 9-year-old Steven a mysterious bill with 15 zeros on it and the image of a familiar but startling face.
Elijah of Buxton
Elijah of Buxton
Elijah of Buxton is a 2007 novel by Christopher Paul Curtis. It is his fourth book. It won the 00001Coretta Scott King Award, the 2008 Newbery Honor, the 2008 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and the 2008 Book of the Year for Children Award of the Canadian Library Association-Jacket...
(2007)
Curtis's next book is entitled The Mighty Miss Malone and is set in depression-era Gary, Indiana, and Flint, Michigan. The work is a spin-off from Bud, Not Buddy and is narrated by 12 year old Deza Malone.
Curtis has also written the introductions for the Aladdin Classics version of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, and the Modern Library edition of Mark Twain's The Prince And The Pauper.
Awards/Honors/Nominations
THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM-1963- Newbery Honor Book.
- Coretta Scott King Honor Book.
- A Publisher's Weekly Best Book Of The Year.
- A New York Times Book Review Best Book Of The Year.
- A California Young Reader Medal Winner.
- A Maine Student Book Award Winner.
- An American Library Association (ALA) Best Book For Young Adults.
- An ALA Notable Children's Book.
- A Horn Book Fanfare.
- A Texas Lone Star Reading List Title.
- A Bank Street College Best Book Of The Year.
- A Massachusetts Children's Book Award Winner.
- A NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies.
- A NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book In The field of Language Arts.
- A New Mexico Land Of Enchantment Book Award Winner.
- An Arkansas Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award Winner.
- A Society of Children's Book Writers and illustrators Golden Kite Award Winner.
- A New York Times' Top One Hundred Books Of The Year, 1996. (The only book for young readers to be so honored.)
- A Jane Addams Peace Award Honor Book.
- An American Library Association Top Ten Best Book/Quick Pick.
- An International Reading Association Notable Book For a Global Society.
- An Indiana Department of Education Read Aloud List Book.
- A Bulletin For the Center of Children's Books Blue Ribbon.
- A Booklist Top 25 Black History Picks for Youth Book.
- An International Reading Association Young Adult Choice.
- A 1995 Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Award.
- A New Mexico Land Of Enchantment Book Award Winner.
- A Top Choice List of 2000 for Children's Literature.
- A Virginia Young Readerr's Program Book.
- A Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee.
- A Nevada Young Reader Award Nominee.
- A Nebraska Golden Sower Award Nominee.
- A Missouri Mark Twain Award Nominee.
- A Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Nominee.
- A Michigan Reading Association Children's Choic Award Nominee.
- A Kansas William Allen White Award Nominee.
- A Illinois Rebecca Caudill Award Nominee.
- A Hawaii Nene Award Nominee
- A USBBY Janusz Korzak Literary Prize Nominee.
- A New Hampshire Great Stoneface Book Award Nominee.
- A Tennessee Volunteer State Award Nominee.
- A South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee.
- A Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee.
- A Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee.
- A Oklahoma Sequoyah Young Adult Book Award Nominee.
BUD, NOT BUDDY.
- A 2000 Newbery Medal Winner. (First African-American man to win the award.)
- A 2000 Coretta Scott KIng Author Award Winner.
- A School Library Journal Best Book Of The Year.
- An International Readers Association (IRA) Children's Book Award For Older Readers.
- A NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book.
- A Publisher's Weekly Best Book Of The Year.
- An ALA Best Book For Young Adults.
- An ALA Notable Children's Book.
- A New York Times Notable Book.
- A Bulletin For The Center of Children's Books Blue Ribbon book.
- An Arizona Young Readers Award winner (Teen Category).
- A Florida Sunshine State Young Reader's Award.
- A Virginian Capitol Choices List.
- A Massachusetts Chiildren's Book Award Honor Book.
- A New Mexico Book Of Enchantment Book Award Winner.
- A Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award Winner.
- A Young Reader's Choice Award.
- A Sugar Maple Awards Winner Grades 4-6
- A Hawaii Nene Award Winner.
- A Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner.
- A Kansas William White Award Winner.
- A Tennessee Volunteer State Award Winner.
- A South Dakota Prairie Pasque Award Winner.
- A Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Winner.
- A Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Winner.
- A SCBWI Golden Kite Award Winner.
- A Great Lakes Booksellers Association Children's Chapter Book Award Winner.
- Booklist Top Ten Historical Fiction For Youth.
- A Louisiana Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee.
- A Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Nominee.
- A South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee.
- A Wyoming Inidan Paintbrush Award Nominee.
- A Wisconsin Golden Archer Book Award Nominee.
- A Ohio Buckeye Children's Book Award Grade 6-8 Nominee.
- A North Dakota Flicker Tale Children's Book Award Nominee.
- A Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee.
MR. CHICKEE'S FUNNY MONEY
- A Parent's Choice Gold Award Winner.
BUCKING THE SARGE
- An ALA Best Books For Young Adults.
- An ALA Notable Children's Book.
- A Great Lakes Booksellers Association Children's Chapter Book Award.
- A Booklist Children's Editors Choice Award.
- A USA Today Best Young Adult Book.
- A SCBWI Golden Kite Award For Fiction Honor Book.
- A School Library Journal Best Book Of The Year.
- A Texas Tayhas High School Reading List Title.
- A Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Book Of The Year.
ELIJAH OF BUXTON
- A Newbery Honor Book.
- Coretta Scott King Award Winner.
- A School Library Journal Best Book.
- A Parent's Choice Gold Award Winner.
- IRA Notable Book For A Global Society.
- A Publisher's Weekly Best Book.
- A Booklist Editor's Choice.
- A Scott O'Dell Award Winner.
- A Kirkus Best Book.
- A Horn Book Fanfare Book.
- A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book.
- A Booklinks Lasting Connections Book.
- A TD Canadian Children's Literature AwardTD Canadian Children's Literature AwardThe TD Canadian Children's Literature Award is an annual Canadian literary award, presented to the year's best work of children's literature. Sponsored by TD Bank Financial Group and the Canadian Children's Book Centre, the award carries a monetary prize of $25,000.Two awards are presented...
Winner. - A Governor General's Award Children's Text Finalist.
- A Canadian Library Association Book Of The Year.
- An NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book For Young People.
- A White Ravens by the International Youth Library of 2008, Germany Award.
- A Geoffrey Bilson Award For Historical Fiction For Young People Award Winner.
- A Jane Addams Peace Association of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Book for Older Children Honor Award.
- A Great Lakes Book Sellers Association's Children's Chapter Book Award.
- A Red Maple Award Nominee.
- An NAACP Image Award Nominee.
- A 2008 Michigan Notable Author Award Winner
Christopher Paul Curtis appeared on The Tavis Smiley Show
The Tavis Smiley Show
The Tavis Smiley Show is an American public broadcasting radio talk show. A television show, simply titled Tavis Smiley, is a late night television program on Public Broadcasting Service . Both shows feature Tavis Smiley as host....
on PBS on January 11, 2005.
His name has also been part of an answer on the long running quiz show "Jeopardy." The $1600 answer in the category "Hey Bud!" on January 13, 2005 was, "Christopher Paul Curtis won a Newbery medal in 2000 for his children's book, 'Bud, Not . . .' this." A teacher answered correctly.
He also appeared on The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
Book Club to answer questions about his book with Al Roker
Al Roker
Albert Lincoln "Al" Roker, Jr. is an American television meteorologist as well as an actor and book author. He is best known as being the weather anchor on NBC's Today. On Monday, July 20, 2009, he began co-hosting his new morning show, Wake Up with Al, on The Weather Channel, which airs weekdays...
in 2007.
Curtis won the 2009 Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers' Literature, which honors a "nationally acclaimed author who has made a significant contribution to the field of literature and young adults".