References. He is survived by his wife, Constance, and two sons. Walter Dean Myers, a beloved author of children's books, died on Tuesday following a brief illness, according to the Children's Book Council. He is famous from his real name: Walter Dean Myers, Birthdate(Birthday): August 12, 1937 , Age on July 1, 2014(Death date): 76 Years 10 Months 20 Days Profession: Writers (Novelist), Father: George Ambrose Myers, Mother: Mary Dolly Green Myers, School: Stuyvesant High School, Married: Yes, Children: No Prolific and award-winning author Walter Dean Myers, 76, winner of the first-ever Michael L. Printz Award for the novel Monster, died July 1 after a brief illness. The image first went viral in 2018, when Walter's owner posted the photo with the caption "When u open the front-facing camera on accident." Walter Dean Myers died Tuesday after a brief illness. His eighty-plus titles include Monster, Scorpions, and a memoir of his own youth, Bad Boy. He has written over one hundred books including picture books and nonfiction. NEW YORK — Walter Dean Myers, a best-selling and prolific children’s author and tireless champion of literacy and education, has died. Myers later took "Dean" as his middle name in honor of his foster parents Florence and Herbert.[5]. Florence and Herbert Dean raised him in Harlem, New York City. Died At Age: 76. Explore Walter Dean Myers's biography, personal life, family and cause of death. Where did Walter dean Myers die? Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12th, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia. He often met young people whose poverty and lack of direction reminded him of his own experience. Myers wrote well in high school, which his teacher Bonnie Liebow recognized. NEW YORK (AP) — Walter Dean Myers, a best-selling and prolific children’s author and tireless champion of literacy and education, has died. “In the dark times, when my uncle was murdered, when my family became dysfunctional with alcohol and grief, or when I realized that our economics would not allow me to go to college I began to despair,” Mr. Myers wrote in March in an essay on the front page of The New York Times’s Sunday Review section, titled “Where Are the People of Color in Children’s Books?” He turned to literature — Balzac, Shakespeare, Arthur Miller — but longed for black characters. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Walter Dean Myers. [10][6] Myers would write at night, soon writing about his difficult teenage years. [24] For his lifetime contribution as a children's writer he was U.S. nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2010. "Walter Dean Myers, Prolific and Beloved Author of Award-Winning Children's Books, Dies at Age 76". Myers' life as a child centered on the neighborhood and the church. Myers, a longtime resident of Jersey City, died on June 25 at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan after a brief illness. How did Myers end up in Harlem? Who is Walter Dean Myers? Myers is quoted on his website saying, “I was born on a Thursday, the 12th of August, 1937, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. [16] Myers is mentioned in Sharon Creech's 2001 poetic novella Love That Dog, in which a young boy admires Myers and invites him to visit his class. [2] He also sat on the Board of Advisors of the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators (SCBWI). Discovering “Sonny’s Blues,” a story by James Baldwin about black people in Harlem, “humanized me,” he wrote. But painfully shy, a stutterer and facing bleak prospects as an man in the segregation era, Mr. Myers dropped out of the elite Stuyvesant High School and joined the Army on his 17th birthday. [6][7] As a child Myers was often teased for his speech impediment and lashed out at those who teased him. True to his prediction, Mr. Myers has three books scheduled for posthumous publication. He was 76. He wrote in his memoir, “Bad Boy” (2001), that books were his friends as he fought despair. He is a renowned American writer mostly for a young adult form of literature. [21][22] His last written work was an op-ed for The New York Times, "Where Are the People of Color in Children's Books?" Walter Dean Myers is the critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of more than eighty books for children and young adults, including Sunrise Over Fallujah, Fallen Angels, Monster, Somewhere in the Darkness, Slam!, Jazz, and Harlem. He received a tepid reception. Author Walter Dean Myers died on Tuesday at the age of 76 after a brief illness, publisher HarperCollins said in a statement. “There were two very distinct voices going on in my head, and I moved easily between them,” he wrote of his teenage years. “They explore our common humanity. [17], A prolific author, Myers wrote over a thousand books for children and young adults during his forty five year writing career. Complete bibliography in publication order. As he put it, you can't do well in life if you don't read well. But he also began writing, eventually contributing to Alfred Hitchcock’s mystery magazine and to sports publications. “One had to do with sports, street life and establishing myself as a male.” The other voice, he said, “the one I hid from my street friends and teammates, was increasingly dealing with the vocabulary of literature.”. books most frequently challenged in the U.S. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History, Children and Young Adult Literature portal, "Coretta Scott King Book Award Recipients: Current and Past", "Walter Dean Myers Named National Ambassador for Young People's Literature", "About Walter Dean Myers | Walter Dean Myers", "Walter Dean Myers: United States .Author", "Where are the people of color in children's books? His death, at Beth Israel Medical Center, followed a brief illness, his son Christopher said. * Died in my backyard on march,13 of 09.D=* Love:Larica Did randy die in prison in the book the scorpions by Walter Dean Myers? He has won the Coretta Scott King Award for African-American authors five times. The young-adult librarians observed that "these books authentically portray African-American youth, but their appeal is not limited to any particular ethnic group. By middle school he was over six feet tall and playing basketball. Walter Dean Myers, a celebrated author known for writing books about young African Americans, such as "Monster," "Fallen Angels" and "Hoops," has died. We try to keep BookBrowse's biographies both up to date and accurate, but with many thousands of lives to keep track of it's a tough task. Mr. Myers was a three-time National Book Award nominee, received the Coretta Scott King Book Award for African-American fiction five times and from 2012 to 2013 served as national ambassador for young people’s literature, a position created in part by the Library of Congress. Walter Milton Myers was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia on August 12, 1937. "[24] He was a two-time runner-up for the annual Newbery Medal, recognizing the previous year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children", in 1989 for The Scorpion and in 1993 for Somewhere in the Darkness. Celebrated children's and YA author Walter Dean Myers, whose motto was "Reading is not optional," died Tuesday at age 76, his literary agent said in a phone interview. Florence and Herbert Dean raised him in Harlem, New York City. His novels about urban teens and the challenges they face have won him both a devoted readership and dozens of book awards. “They were readers.”. A graphic novel of “Monster” is also to be published next year. He was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, but was raised in Harlem, New York City. Walter age 11. Myers received the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1994 for his contribution in writing for teens. The award-winning young adult author Walter Dean Myers, who died on Tuesday at 76, wrote an Op-Ed piece for The New York Times last March in which he bemoaned the paucity of children’s books about black people. [4] Herbert Dean was an African-American man and his wife was a German and Native American woman who taught English at the local high school. A daughter, Karen, predeceased him. education: Stuyvesant High School, Empire State College, Brown University. In “Monster,” it was unclear if the young narrator had actually committed the crime — the killing of a Harlem drugstore owner — that sent him to prison. He was 76. He was smart but did not do that well in school, and was considered a disruptive student. He … How was Myers drawn to reading? How did a culture of reading affect Myers' life? Whenever Walter Dean Myers wrote a book — and he published nearly 100 of them for children and teens — he would ask his wife, Connie, to assemble a collage of … Mr. Myers always said he understood desperation. Mr. Myers, who lived in Jersey City, visited schools and prisons around the country. My name at birth was Walter Milton Myers. Then the young prisoners asked him if he knew anyone famous. Walter Dean Myers, beloved and deeply respected children's book author, died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. Quotes By Walter Dean Myers African American Authors. Mr. Myers wrote more than 100 books on a wide array of subjects, including the war in Iraq and an African princess. [18] Myers writing focused on his hard experiences as a teenager and he worked to show troubled teens that reading is a necessity in life. Why do you think this is? Miller, Keith, and Allison Parker. At age two, Myers’s mother, Mary Green, died, and Florence Brown Dean, his father’s ex-wife and her husband, Herbert Dean, raised him. The neighborhood protected him and the church guided him. In addition to his son Christopher, his survivors include his wife, Constance; another son, Michael; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Walter Milton Myers was born in Martinsburg, West Virginiaon August 12, 1937. Born in: Martinsburg. More Facts. When asked what he valued most, he replied, "My books. His first published title, a picture book called Where Does the Day Go? He was 76. He did not exactly understand what that meant but years later, while working on a construction job in Chicago, he remembered her words. Myers was a finalist for the for Young People's Literature: in 1999 for Monster, in 2005 for Autobiography of My Dead Brother, and in 2010 for Lockdown. It won a Council on Interracial Books for Children Award, 1968.[28]. Died on: July 1, 2014. place of death: Manhattan. “Besides his books, his legacy is his compassionate identity with these young people.”. Walter Dean Myers, a best-selling children’s book author whose crystalline prose often depicted the gritty lives of young people, died on Tuesday in Manhattan. [1] 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. [15], Myers lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his family. Myers was the third U.S. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, serving in 2012 and 2013. “Lockdown,” a National Book Award finalist, came about after Mr. Myers met a youth who was afraid of getting into trouble again after prison. Walter Dean Myers was a noted champion of literacy and education. Herbert Dean was an African-American man and his wife was a German and Native American woman who taug… Walter Dean Myers, a best-selling children’s book author whose crystalline prose often depicted the gritty lives of young people, died on Tuesday in Manhattan. When his mother died while giving birth to his little sister, Myers was given over as a child to Florence Dean, who was the first wife of George Myers (Walter's biological father), who raised him in Harlem, New York. The ALA Margaret A. Edwards Award recognizes one writer and a particular body of work for "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature". [16] His family includes his wife; son, author and illustrator Christopher Myers; son, Michael; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Myers later took on "Dean" as his middle name in honor of his foster parents Florence and Herbert. Mr. Myers has received two Newbery Honors, five Coretta Scott King Awards, and the inaugural recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. What does Myers want his legacy to be? He wrote over one hundred books, including Fallen Angels and Monster. Walter Dean Myers's website This bio was last updated on 10/07/2014. [19] During his time as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Myers toured the United States advocating reading and used the slogan "Reading is Not Optional" to inspire teens to read.[18]. On July 1, 2014, Myers died at Beth Israel Medical Center in Midtown Manhattan[20] after a brief illness. Video provided by YouTube and Walter Dean Myers . Walter Dean Myers is a pioneer of young adult fiction. He won the Coretta Scott King Award for African-American authors five times. His first book, “Where Does the Day Go?,” was published in 1969 after he won a children’s literature contest for minority writers. The bull terrier is most famous for the staring / front camera meme, which features a closeup of his face. [14] It wasn't until Myers read the book Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin, which takes place in Harlem and focus on African American characters, that he was inspired to start writing stories based on his own experiences growing up. Famous as: Writer. Myers was the author of more than 100 books for children and young adults, including “Fallen Angels,” “Sunrise Over Fallujah,” and the … Walter Dean Myers, beloved and deeply respected children's book author, died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. “I was born on a Thursday, the 12th of August, 1937, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. He was 76. He wrote three books in the My Name Is America series. "Interview with Walter Dean Myers." [8] During this time he cultivated the habit of writing poetry and short stories and acquired an early love of reading. Walter Dean Myers died in New York City on July 1, 2014 after a brief illness. Author of over seventy children’s and young adult books, Walter Dean Myers was born Walter Milton Myers on August 12, 1937, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. [16][27], Myers first published book was a contest winner: Where Does the Day Go?, written by Myers and illustrated by Leo Carty (Parents Magazine Press, 1969). You may not think that you know who Walter the Dog is, but you've likely seen (or even used) an image with his face on it as a meme. He was 76 years old. “Books transmit values,” he wrote. Where are the future white loan officers and future white politicians going to get their knowledge of people of color? Walter Dean Myers, a beloved author of children’s books, died on Tuesday following a brief illness, according to the Children’s Book Council. [9] She also suspected that he would drop out and advised him to keep writing no matter what happened. Sun Sign: Leo. This struggle lead him to remember the advice given by his high school teacher and he began writing columns for men's magazines. Mr. Myers continued to write, “even from his hospital bed,” Christopher Myers said on Thursday. Seeing him struggle a teacher urged him to use writing as a way to better express himself. U.S. State: West Virginia. Also Known As: Walter Milton Myers. He passed away Tuesday at age 76 after a brief illness. Walter Dean Myers (born Walter Milton Myers; August 12, 1937 – July 1, 2014) was a writer of children's books best known for young adult literature. "[11] Myers attended Public School 125 on Lasalle Street and Stuyvesant High School[12], before dropping out to join the U.S. Army on his 17th birthday. [3] When he was two years old his mother died while giving birth to his younger sister, which left his father to support a large family. He wrote more than one hundred books including picture books and nonfiction. How did Harlem and its surroundings affect Myers? [13], After leaving the army, Myers struggled with finding work and figuring out his purpose. Walter Dean Myers Biography, Life, Interesting Facts. Walter Dean Myers (August 12, 1937 – July 1, 2014) was a children's and young adult author. I was about two years old when my mother died and then I was inexplicably given to Florence and Herbert Dean. He was 76. In addition, he was the winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award and the 1994 recipient o… At the age of three, Myers was given over to Florence Dean, the first wife of his biological father George Myers, and her husband Herbert. “They explore our common humanity. Walter Milton Myers was born on Aug. 12, 1937, in Martinsburg, W.Va. They were my only real friends growing up. In a career spanning over 45 years, Walter Dean Myers wrote more than 100 books for children of all ages. 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