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Writing Families: A Natural Partnership Part 1

© Alessia Cowee

A child's love of literature may grow as a natural extension of the closeness of family. Most often a child's first exposure to the wonders of artistic expression is through the words and illustrations discovered in their first books. Children are never too young to enjoy books; the color and design of the artwork, the cadence of a loved one's voice reading the words, the warmth of a shared smile in a shared space, provide security and ignite curiosity in children of all ages. Can it be any less so for the families of those who create these works? How amazing to grow up witness to the process of creative inspiration! What joy to be included as a partner in that endeavor!

This week Award-winning Children's Authors and Illustrators begins a three-part series on African-American authors and illustrators who are not only partners in creativity, but members of the same family as well.

Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers

Walter Dean Myers learned to read at the knee of his foster mother. He acquired a love of books from a caring teacher. Suffering from a severe speech impediment, writing became Myers primary outlet for self-expression. He uses his personal and family history and background as inspiration for his stories. Myers writes fiction, nonfiction and poetry and has won numerous awards for his work, among them the Caldecott Honor; Coretta Scott King Award;Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor. He is the author of more than fifteen books for children and young adults.

Myers and his wife have three grown children, a daughter and two sons. Their son Christopher, is an artist and award-winning children's book author/illustrator. "Black Cat" by Christopher Myers was a 2000 Coretta Scott King Honor Book.

Christopher credits much of his love of images and storytelling to his family. Christopher grew up watching his parents absorb history, their own and other peoples'. His father often included Christopher in researching for his writing projects.

In 1998, Myers teamed up with his son Christopher to produce "Harlem", a picture book of poetry which merited the Caldecott Honor. "Harlem" is set against the backdrop of Harlem in New York City and is rich with verbal and illustrative images of African-American culture.

Christopher and Walter Dean Myers have also collaborated on other works, including a fantasy novel, "Shadow of the Red Moon."

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