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Charles R. Smith Jr.

Charles R. Smith Jr.
Photograph courtesy of the Author

Charles R. Smith Jr.

Charles R. Smith, Jr. is an acclaimed poet and the Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator of My People, a picture book based on the poem by Langston Hughes. He is also the illustrator of If, the author and photographer of I Am the World, and he won the Coretta Scott King Author Honor for his book Twelve Rounds To Glory. He grew up in California and attended the Brooks Institute of Photography. A magazine and book cover photographer in addition to a picture book creator, Charles lives with his wife and kids in Poughkeepsie, New York. Visit him at CharlesRSmithJr.com.

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  • 1635265513_27807600001_thumb-d11379e6-860d-4bb5-a9a9-5b5cc2081c6d
    1. Watch Author Charles R. Smith Discuss His New Photography Book My People
    03:25
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  • 1635265513_27791708001_thumb-711e027f-7120-4391-8cbd-88b230feca44
    2. Illustrator Charles R. Smith Performs A Poem By Langston Hughes, My People
    00:59
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  • 1635265513_27791009001_thumb-01d65a12-27ae-43a5-a757-632bf97641c7
    3. Get to Know Illustrator Charles R. Smith, Jr.
    01:19
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  • 1635265513_27803206001_thumb-7e544659-25e5-425e-a748-19e5b0b14ebe
    4. Author Charles R. Smith, Jr.: Revealed
    01:19
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  • 1635265513_27793943001_thumb-378af6b1-2291-4129-8728-a56c126d214f
    5. Watch Charles R. Smith, Jr. Read A Poem By Langston Hughes
    00:59
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  • 1635265513_16724427001_asset-1237298670558
    6. Charles R. Smith Jr.: My People
    00:59
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I Am the World will be released on July 09, 2013 in Hardcover, eBook
May 14, 2013
Stars in the Shadows will be released on January 03, 2012 in Hardcover, eBook
Jan 03, 2012
Stars in the Shadows is now available in Hardcover, eBook
Jan 03, 2012
Excerpt:
Chapter 1 from Stars in the Shadows
Dec 24, 2011
Graphic Excerpt:
Stars in the Shadows
Jul 08, 2011
News:
My People has won an award
Jul 31, 2010
News:
My People has won an award
May 06, 2010
News:
My People has won an award
Feb 20, 2010
News:
My People has won an award
Feb 18, 2010
News:
My People has won an award
Jan 21, 2010
News:
My People has won an award
Jan 21, 2010
News:
My People has won an award
Nov 20, 2009
News:
My People has won an award
Nov 06, 2009
Jun 27, 2009

Authors on the Web

Detroit News, April 17, 2013
...illustrations also animate the stirring text of "Brick by Brick" (Amistad/HarperCollins, $17.99, ages 7-10). Here, award-winning poet Charles R. Smith Jr. highlights the slaves who helped build the White House. Karen MacPherson, the childrens/teen...
School Library Journal, March 25, 2013
...workers are joined by slave labor to get the job done. In highlighting their work, poet and author Charles R. Smith Jr. focuses squarely on the hands of the laborers. Gentle rhyming text tells the tale, pulling in facts along the way. For example, we see...
Newsday, February 15, 2013
...slave labor? This rich history is slowly being mined for children's books. "Brick by Brick," by Charles R. Smith Jr., illustrated by Floyd Cooper (Amistad, $17.99, ages 4-8), tells the story of how slaves, on loan from owners, raised the original White...
Columbus Dispatch, February 1, 2013
...individual hopes and dreams. • Brick by Brick (Amistad, 32 pages, $17.99, ages 5 to 8) by Charles R. Smith Jr., illustrated by Floyd Cooper In spare poetry, Smith follows the slaves who in the 1790s helped construct the White House. Cooper supplies...
Kirkus Reviews, January 26, 2013
...here in the Thomas-Cooper collaboration.) Lastly, as we wrap up inauguration week, I enthusiastically recommend another Cooper-illustrated title, Charles R. Smith Jr.’s Brick by Brick, which may still be new to many readers, as it was released at the...
Examiner.com, October 16, 2012
...On Wednesday, October 17th. Photographer and award-winning children’s author Charles R. Smith Jr. will be speaking at Family Literacy Night at Fairview Elementary in High Point, NC. Details: Fairview Elementary School 608 Fairview Street High...
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 8, 2012
..."Stars in the Shadows" by Charles R. Smith Jr. (ages 8 and up) Baseball is called America's pastime, but this exciting book reminds us that not all Americans have always been treated fairly. Reading this...
Journal Review, November 8, 2012
...He owned and operated the Lil Arrow Shop in Mace for 35 years; he also was a dealer for PSE (Precision Shooting Equipment); and he was at one time employed by Glen and Edna Deckard. He retired from Raybestos after 40 years in September 2012 due to his...
Lebanon Reporter, November 8, 2012
...He was born Oct. 19, 1952. He owned and operated the Lil Arrow Shop, in Mace, for 35 years, and he was also a dealer for Precision Shooting Equipment. He was at one time employed by Glen and Edna Deckard. He retired from Raybestos in September 2012,...
Centerville-Bellbrook Times, November 7, 2012
...musical. The texts were titled, “Tulip Sees America” written by Cynthia Rylant and “I Am America” written by Charles R. Smith Jr. The kids learned new vocabulary, used rhyme and even incorporating sign language through their songs. Practice and...
Examiner.com, October 16, 2012
...On Wednesday, October 17th. Photographer and award-winning children’s author Charles R. Smith Jr. will be speaking at Family Literacy Night at Fairview Elementary in High Point, NC. Details: Fairview Elementary School 608 Fairview Street High...
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 8, 2012
..."Stars in the Shadows" by Charles R. Smith Jr. (ages 8 and up) Baseball is called America's pastime, but this exciting book reminds us that not all Americans have always been treated fairly. Reading this...
Journal-Gazette, July 3, 2012
...s a tree that holds the secrets of everyone in the neighborhood. •“Stars in the Shadows” by Charles R. Smith Jr. Ages 6 to 12. Baseball’s all-star game is called the Midsummer Classic, and this book takes readers to Chicago during the summer of...