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Jerry Craft

ジェリー・クラフト

Jerry Craft

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1963-01-22 （New York City, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Washington Heights, Manhattan → Norwalk, Connecticut

Career

Occupations
Cartoonist, Children's book illustrator, Graphic novelist
Active Years
1987-

Education

Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Country: United States
Attended for secondary education (high school level)
School of Visual Arts
Media Arts
Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts
Period: 〜1984
Year of Graduation: 1984
Country: United States
Received BFA in Media Arts

Awards

Newbery Medal
2020
Work: New Kid
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: 受賞
Coretta Scott King Author Award
2020
Work: New Kid
Organization: Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee
Result: 受賞
Kirkus Prize
2019
Work: New Kid
Organization: Kirkus Reviews
Result: 受賞
Glyph Awards — Best Comic Strip or Webcomic
2013
Work: Mama's Boyz
Organization: Glyph Comics Awards
Result: 受賞
African American Literary Awards Show — Open Book Awards
2009
Organization: African American Literary Awards Show
Result: 受賞
African American Literary Awards Show — Open Book Awards
2004
Organization: African American Literary Awards Show
Result: 受賞
Outstanding Supporter Award
Organization: American Diabetes Association
Result: 受賞（複数回）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

New Kid

2019 Graphic novel / Children's literature

A semi-autobiographical middle-grade graphic novel about Jordan Banks, an African-American seventh grader navigating a predominantly white, affluent private school and facing daily microaggressions and identity challenges.

RaceIdentitySchool lifeComing of age

Class Act

2020 Graphic novel / Children's literature

A follow-up set in the same world as New Kid, exploring friendships, misunderstandings, and issues of identity at school.

FriendshipFairnessInterpersonal relationships at school

School Trip

2023 Graphic novel / Children's literature

Set on a school field trip, this entry in the series focuses on characters' growth, interactions, misunderstandings, and reconciliations.

CommunityGrowthMisunderstanding and reconciliation

Mama's Boyz collections

1995 Newspaper comic strip

Collections of the syndicated comic strip following single mother Pauline Porter and her sons, focusing on family and neighborhood humor and challenges.

FamilyHumorCommunity

Bibliography

  • The Offenders: Saving the World While Serving Detention! (with Jaylen Craft & Aren Craft) (Mama's Boyz, Inc., 2014)
  • New Kid (Quill Tree Books, 2019)
  • Class Act (Quill Tree Books, 2020)
  • School Trip (Quill Tree Books, 2023)
  • As American as Sweet Potato Pie! (American Publishing Company, 1997)
  • Home Schoolin' – Because Learning Shouldn't Stop at 3 O'Clock (Mama's Boyz, Inc., 2007)
  • The Big Picture: What you Need to Succeed! (Mama's Boyz, Inc., 2010)
  • Hillary's Big Business Adventure (illustrator) (Nelson Publishing, 2008)
  • Looking to the Clouds for Daddy (illustrator) (Karen Hunter Media, 2009)
  • Khalil's Way (illustrator) (Urban Leadership Institute, 2012)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Visually driven graphic-novel formatBalances children's humor with realistic depictionClear paneling and approachable line work
Recurring Motifs
School life and friendshipEvents around race and identityFamily bonds and humor

Legacy

Jerry Craft is recognized as a pioneer who brought graphic novels into major children's literature honors. Through his syndicated comic strip and children's books he has been praised for depicting diversity and everyday racial experiences. New Kid in particular elevated the status of graphic novels by winning the Newbery Medal.

In Popular Culture

  • Characters from Mama's Boyz have been used as spokescharacters for the American Diabetes Association's African-American Program, contributing to community outreach.

Trivia

  • New Kid was the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal.
  • He is one of only a handful of syndicated African American cartoonists in the United States.
  • His son Aren died on February 8, 2024 (age 24).