Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander is an American poet and children's book author. He was born in New York City in 1968. He won the Newbery Medal for his novel in verse, The Crossover. He is known for making poetry cool for kids.

Early Life

Alexander grew up in a family that loved books and writing. His mother was an English teacher and his father was a publisher. He started writing poetry as a child. He published his first book of poems when he was in his 20s.

The Crossover and Beyond

The Crossover tells the story of twin brothers who love basketball, told entirely in poetry. It won the Newbery Medal in 2015 and was later turned into a TV series. Alexander has written over 30 books. He travels the world to encourage kids to read and write poetry.

Fun Facts

• The Crossover was rejected by 22 publishers before it was finally published.
• Kwame Alexander has written over 30 books.
• He has built libraries in Ghana, Africa, to help children access books.

Did You Know?

Kwame Alexander's book The Crossover was rejected 22 times before a publisher said yes. He kept believing in his story, and it went on to win the Newbery Medal.