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Derrick Barnes

デリック・バーンズ

Derikku Bānzu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
United States
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Kansas City, Missouri → New Orleans, Louisiana → Charlotte, North Carolina

Career

Occupations
Children's author, Writer
Active Years
1999-
Influenced By
Stevie Wonder, Langston Hughes

Education

Jackson State University
Marketing
Degree: 学士
Country: United States

Awards

Newbery Honor
2018
Work: Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Honor
Coretta Scott King Award
2018
Work: Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Organization: Coretta Scott King Book Awards
Result: Winner
Caldecott Honor
2018
Work: Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
Result: Honor
Ezra Jack Keats Book Award
2018
Work: Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Organization: Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
Result: Winner
Kirkus Prize
2018
Work: Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Organization: Kirkus Reviews
Result: Winner
Kirkus Prize
2020
Work: I Am Every Good Thing
Category: Young People's Literature
Organization: Kirkus Reviews
Result: Winner
Charlotte Huck Award
2020
Work: I Am Every Good Thing
Organization: National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut

2017 Picture book

A picture book celebrating a young Black boy's confidence and pride as he gets a fresh haircut in a barbershop.

Self-esteemAfrican American cultureCommunity

The King of Kindergarten

2019 Picture book

A picture book about a boy's excitement and confidence on his first days of kindergarten.

ConfidenceSchool lifeGrowing up

I Am Every Good Thing

2020 Picture book / Children's literature

A poetic and uplifting book addressing a young Black boy, affirming his worth, potential, and strengths.

Self-affirmationHopeRole models

Ruby and the Booker Boys (series)

2008 Children's chapter books / Middle grade

A series about Ruby Booker, a sassy third-grader trying to stand out in the shadow of her three older brothers.

FamilyHumorSelf-assertion

We Could Be Brothers

2010 Young adult / Middle-grade novel

A story about two boys from different backgrounds who navigate friendship, identity, and growing up.

FriendshipComing-of-ageRace and identity

Bibliography

  • The Low-down, Bad-day Blues (2004)
  • Stop, Drop and Chill (2004)
  • The Making of Dr. Truelove (2008)
  • Brand New School, Brave New Ruby (2008)
  • Trivia Queen, 3rd Grade Supreme (2008)
  • The Slumber Party Payback (2008)
  • Ruby Flips For Attention (2009)
  • We Could Be Brothers (2010)
  • Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut (2017)
  • The King of Kindergarten (2019)
  • Who Got Game?: Baseball (2020)
  • I Am Every Good Thing (2020)
  • The Queen of Kindergarten (2022)
  • Victory. Stand!-Raising My Fist For Justice (2022)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Rhythmic, conversational proseChild-friendly dictionUse of poetic phrasing
Recurring Motifs
Self-affirmationFamily and communityAffirming depictions of African American culture

Legacy

Derrick Barnes is known for affirming portrayals of Black children and has helped broaden diversity and self-affirmation in contemporary children's literature. Works such as Crown have won multiple major children's literature awards and are widely used in educational and library settings.

Academic Societies

  • American Library Association
  • National Council of Teachers of English

Quotes

  • I want to change how children see themselves in this world. I want to thwart those negative images and make sure they know they are loved.
    Source: Interview with The Kansas City Star (2018)

Trivia

  • He was the first full-time Black male copywriter at Hallmark Cards.
  • Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut earned multiple awards in 2018, including Newbery Honor, Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King Award, Ezra Jack Keats Award, and the Kirkus Prize.
  • Grew up in Kansas City and currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his family.