Walter Milton Myers was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia. After his mother died while giving birth to his younger sister, Myers was given over to Florence Dean, the first wife of his biological father George Myers. Dean raised him in Harlem, New York City, and Myers later took "Dean" as his middle name in honor of his foster parents Florence and Herbert. Herbert Dean was an African-American man and his wife was a part-German and part-Native American woman who taught English at the local high school. Myers' life as a child centered on the neighborhood and the church. The neighborhood protected him and the church guided him. He was smart but did not do that well in school. Suffering from a speech impediment, he cultivated the habit of writing poetry and short stories and acquired an early love of reading. Myers attended Public School 125 on Lasalle Street, before dropping out (although Stuyvesant High School now claims him as a graduate) and joining the U.S. Army on his 17th birthday.
Dean was born on June 1, 1968 in Ruston, Louisiana to Walter, a concrete company dispatcher, and Betty Dean, an administrative secretary at Grambling State University. He also has a younger brother who played soccer, Keith, who was one of Louisiana's leading interscholastic players, and with whom he shared a bunk-bed according to their mother. Walter Dean attended Grambling State University Laboratory High School in Grambling, Louisiana and turned down offers from major college football programs such as Nebraska and Louisiana State in order to attend Grambling State. Dean said, "I wanted to go to a college where everybody I knew wouldn't have to sign up for a frequent-flyer program in order to see me play."
Children's book author Walter Dean Myers (Harlem) talks about a discovery he made in childhood: that books are a path to a world beyond our own neighborhoods.
published: 22 Jan 2012
Author Walter Dean Myers: 'Reading Is Not Optional' for Kids
Walter Dean Myers is the award-winning author of over 100 books, written especially for young adults and children. His goal: to get more children reading. Jeffrey Brown reports on how reading and writing saved helped Myers as a child and his current role as Library Of Congress' National Ambassador For Young People's Literature.
published: 01 Aug 2012
A Conversation with Author Walter Dean Myers
Author Walter Dean Myers talks and reads from some of his books, including Harlem, a picture book of his poem about a neighborhood in New York City and the people who have lived there. He also discusses Monster, a young adult novel about a 16 year-old on trial as an accomplice to a murder, and At Her Majesty’s Request: An African Princess in Victorian England, the biography of an African princess saved from execution and raised under the supervision of Queen Victoria (recorded in 2000 at C. D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, VA).
published: 06 Aug 2018
Walter Dean Myers Biography
I created this video with Goodman Media to discuss my life, my writing influences and how I overcame obstacles in my life. For more information, please visit walterdeanmyers.net
published: 08 Apr 2014
2017 Walter Dean Myers Award
Meet the 2017 Walter Award Winners and Honorees: The March Trio Winners (Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell) and Honorees Marina Budhos, Meredith Russo, and Nicola Yoon talk about why diverse books matter – even more than ever.
Learn more about the Walter Award on our website: http://weneeddiversebooks.org/about-the-walter/
published: 04 Apr 2017
Walter Dean Myers discusses Monster
I made this video with Goodman Media to discuss Monster, one of my most popular novels. For more information, please visit walterdeanmyers.net
published: 08 Apr 2014
Walter Dean Myers at Children's Book Week
Walter Dean Myers, the 2012-2013 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and a renowned author of books for young people, tells stories, reads from his books and talks with members of the audience in a program that marks the Library's celebration of Children's Book Week.
Speaker Biography: Walter Dean Myers is a writer of children's books best known for young adult literature. He has written over fifty books including picture books and nonfiction. He has won the Coretta Scott King Award for African-American authors five times. His 1988 novel Fallen Angels is one of the books most frequently challenged in the U.S. because of its adult language and its realistic depiction of the Vietnam War. He currently sits on the Board of Advisors of the Society of Children's Book Writer's and...
published: 03 Apr 2014
MONSTER - Trailer
Check out the trailer for Steppenwolf for Young Adults' production of MONSTER, based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers and adapted for the stage by Aaron Carter. The play is directed by SYA Artistic Director Hallie Gordon and features ensemble member Alana Arenas.
Children's book author Walter Dean Myers (Harlem) talks about a discovery he made in childhood: that books are a path to a world beyond our own neighborhoods.
Children's book author Walter Dean Myers (Harlem) talks about a discovery he made in childhood: that books are a path to a world beyond our own neighborhoods.
Children's book author Walter Dean Myers (Harlem) talks about a discovery he made in childhood: that books are a path to a world beyond our own neighborhoods.
Walter Dean Myers is the award-winning author of over 100 books, written especially for young adults and children. His goal: to get more children reading. Jeffr...
Walter Dean Myers is the award-winning author of over 100 books, written especially for young adults and children. His goal: to get more children reading. Jeffrey Brown reports on how reading and writing saved helped Myers as a child and his current role as Library Of Congress' National Ambassador For Young People's Literature.
Walter Dean Myers is the award-winning author of over 100 books, written especially for young adults and children. His goal: to get more children reading. Jeffrey Brown reports on how reading and writing saved helped Myers as a child and his current role as Library Of Congress' National Ambassador For Young People's Literature.
Author Walter Dean Myers talks and reads from some of his books, including Harlem, a picture book of his poem about a neighborhood in New York City and the peop...
Author Walter Dean Myers talks and reads from some of his books, including Harlem, a picture book of his poem about a neighborhood in New York City and the people who have lived there. He also discusses Monster, a young adult novel about a 16 year-old on trial as an accomplice to a murder, and At Her Majesty’s Request: An African Princess in Victorian England, the biography of an African princess saved from execution and raised under the supervision of Queen Victoria (recorded in 2000 at C. D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, VA).
Author Walter Dean Myers talks and reads from some of his books, including Harlem, a picture book of his poem about a neighborhood in New York City and the people who have lived there. He also discusses Monster, a young adult novel about a 16 year-old on trial as an accomplice to a murder, and At Her Majesty’s Request: An African Princess in Victorian England, the biography of an African princess saved from execution and raised under the supervision of Queen Victoria (recorded in 2000 at C. D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, VA).
I created this video with Goodman Media to discuss my life, my writing influences and how I overcame obstacles in my life. For more information, please visit wa...
I created this video with Goodman Media to discuss my life, my writing influences and how I overcame obstacles in my life. For more information, please visit walterdeanmyers.net
I created this video with Goodman Media to discuss my life, my writing influences and how I overcame obstacles in my life. For more information, please visit walterdeanmyers.net
Meet the 2017 Walter Award Winners and Honorees: The March Trio Winners (Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell) and Honorees Marina Budhos, Mere...
Meet the 2017 Walter Award Winners and Honorees: The March Trio Winners (Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell) and Honorees Marina Budhos, Meredith Russo, and Nicola Yoon talk about why diverse books matter – even more than ever.
Learn more about the Walter Award on our website: http://weneeddiversebooks.org/about-the-walter/
Meet the 2017 Walter Award Winners and Honorees: The March Trio Winners (Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell) and Honorees Marina Budhos, Meredith Russo, and Nicola Yoon talk about why diverse books matter – even more than ever.
Learn more about the Walter Award on our website: http://weneeddiversebooks.org/about-the-walter/
Walter Dean Myers, the 2012-2013 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and a renowned author of books for young people, tells stories, reads from hi...
Walter Dean Myers, the 2012-2013 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and a renowned author of books for young people, tells stories, reads from his books and talks with members of the audience in a program that marks the Library's celebration of Children's Book Week.
Speaker Biography: Walter Dean Myers is a writer of children's books best known for young adult literature. He has written over fifty books including picture books and nonfiction. He has won the Coretta Scott King Award for African-American authors five times. His 1988 novel Fallen Angels is one of the books most frequently challenged in the U.S. because of its adult language and its realistic depiction of the Vietnam War. He currently sits on the Board of Advisors of the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators (SCBWI).
For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=6244
Walter Dean Myers, the 2012-2013 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and a renowned author of books for young people, tells stories, reads from his books and talks with members of the audience in a program that marks the Library's celebration of Children's Book Week.
Speaker Biography: Walter Dean Myers is a writer of children's books best known for young adult literature. He has written over fifty books including picture books and nonfiction. He has won the Coretta Scott King Award for African-American authors five times. His 1988 novel Fallen Angels is one of the books most frequently challenged in the U.S. because of its adult language and its realistic depiction of the Vietnam War. He currently sits on the Board of Advisors of the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators (SCBWI).
For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=6244
Check out the trailer for Steppenwolf for Young Adults' production of MONSTER, based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers and adapted for the stage by Aaron Carter...
Check out the trailer for Steppenwolf for Young Adults' production of MONSTER, based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers and adapted for the stage by Aaron Carter. The play is directed by SYA Artistic Director Hallie Gordon and features ensemble member Alana Arenas.
Check out the trailer for Steppenwolf for Young Adults' production of MONSTER, based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers and adapted for the stage by Aaron Carter. The play is directed by SYA Artistic Director Hallie Gordon and features ensemble member Alana Arenas.
Children's book author Walter Dean Myers (Harlem) talks about a discovery he made in childhood: that books are a path to a world beyond our own neighborhoods.
Walter Dean Myers is the award-winning author of over 100 books, written especially for young adults and children. His goal: to get more children reading. Jeffrey Brown reports on how reading and writing saved helped Myers as a child and his current role as Library Of Congress' National Ambassador For Young People's Literature.
Author Walter Dean Myers talks and reads from some of his books, including Harlem, a picture book of his poem about a neighborhood in New York City and the people who have lived there. He also discusses Monster, a young adult novel about a 16 year-old on trial as an accomplice to a murder, and At Her Majesty’s Request: An African Princess in Victorian England, the biography of an African princess saved from execution and raised under the supervision of Queen Victoria (recorded in 2000 at C. D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, VA).
I created this video with Goodman Media to discuss my life, my writing influences and how I overcame obstacles in my life. For more information, please visit walterdeanmyers.net
Meet the 2017 Walter Award Winners and Honorees: The March Trio Winners (Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell) and Honorees Marina Budhos, Meredith Russo, and Nicola Yoon talk about why diverse books matter – even more than ever.
Learn more about the Walter Award on our website: http://weneeddiversebooks.org/about-the-walter/
Walter Dean Myers, the 2012-2013 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and a renowned author of books for young people, tells stories, reads from his books and talks with members of the audience in a program that marks the Library's celebration of Children's Book Week.
Speaker Biography: Walter Dean Myers is a writer of children's books best known for young adult literature. He has written over fifty books including picture books and nonfiction. He has won the Coretta Scott King Award for African-American authors five times. His 1988 novel Fallen Angels is one of the books most frequently challenged in the U.S. because of its adult language and its realistic depiction of the Vietnam War. He currently sits on the Board of Advisors of the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators (SCBWI).
For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=6244
Check out the trailer for Steppenwolf for Young Adults' production of MONSTER, based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers and adapted for the stage by Aaron Carter. The play is directed by SYA Artistic Director Hallie Gordon and features ensemble member Alana Arenas.
Walter Milton Myers was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia. After his mother died while giving birth to his younger sister, Myers was given over to Florence Dean, the first wife of his biological father George Myers. Dean raised him in Harlem, New York City, and Myers later took "Dean" as his middle name in honor of his foster parents Florence and Herbert. Herbert Dean was an African-American man and his wife was a part-German and part-Native American woman who taught English at the local high school. Myers' life as a child centered on the neighborhood and the church. The neighborhood protected him and the church guided him. He was smart but did not do that well in school. Suffering from a speech impediment, he cultivated the habit of writing poetry and short stories and acquired an early love of reading. Myers attended Public School 125 on Lasalle Street, before dropping out (although Stuyvesant High School now claims him as a graduate) and joining the U.S. Army on his 17th birthday.
The “faith and tireless work” of WNDB supports authors of color and gets diverse books into the hands of readers, says AngieThomas, the bestselling author of “The Hate U Give.” Thomas won the organization’s WalterDean Myers Grant in 2015...