Walter Dean Myers:
2012-2013 National Ambassador for
Young People’s Literature

“Anytime Myers steps to the plate, you know there’s a chance he’ll hit it out of the park.”
— Booklist, starred review

About the Author

Walter Dean Myers is the critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of more than ninety books for children and young adults, including Invasion, Sunrise Over Fallujah, Fallen Angels, Monster, Somewhere in the Darkness, Slam!, Jazz, and Harlem. Mr. Myers has received two Newbery Honors, five Coretta Scott King Awards, and is the inaugural recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. In addition, he was the winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award, was the first recipient of Kent State University’s Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and the 1994 recipient of the American Library Association's Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring an author for a "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature." Mr. Myers also served as the 2012-2013 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. He is considered one of the preeminent writers for children. Mr. Myers lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Press Releases

• Walter Dean Myers Named New National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, 2012-2013
• Sunrise Over Fallujah: An Unforgettable and Timely Novel about the Heroics and Horror of War
• Walter Dean Myers inaugural recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement

Press Coverage

• New York Times Walter Dean Myers to be named National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature (January 3, 2012)
• Publishers Weekly Walter Dean Myers to be named National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature (January 3, 2012)
• School Library Journal Walter Dean Myers speaks with School Library Journal about being named National Ambassador (January 3, 2012)
• USA Today feature on Walter Dean Myers and Sunrise Over Fallujah (April 24, 2008)
• New York Times Book Review of Sunrise Over Fallujah (May 11, 2008)
• Wall Street Journal feature (June 14, 2008)
• National Public Radio interview for Sunrise Over Fallujah (August 19, 2008)
• Critical praise for Sunrise Over Fallujah

Awards and Distinctions

• Margaret A. Edwards Award for contribution to young adult literature, 1994
• Michael L. Printz Award for Monster (HarperCollins), 2000
• Inaugural recipient, Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, 2010
• Five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award
• Four-time recipient of the Coretta Scott King Honor
• Two-time Newbery Honor recipient
• Two-time National Book Award Finalist
• Jane Addams Children's Book Award

Downloads

• Walter Dean Myers Author Photo (photo credit: Malin Fezehai)
• Walter Dean Myers Author Photo (photo credit: Constance Myers)
• Q & A with Walter Dean Myers
• Invasion cover image (2013)
• Cruisers Book 4: Oh, Snap! cover image (2013)
• Cruisers Book 3: A Star is Born cover image (2012)
• Cruisers Book 2: Checkmate cover image (2011)
• Cruisers Book 1 cover image (2010)
• Amiri and Odette: A Love Story cover image (2009)
• Sunrise Over Fallujah cover image (2008)
• Harlem Summer cover image (2007)
• Antarctica cover image (2004)
• The Beast cover image (2003)
• We Were Heroes, The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, A World War II Soldier cover image (1999)
• Harlem cover image (1997)
• Slam! cover image (1996)
• Fallen Angels cover image (1988)