Christopher Dean “Chris” Myers is an American writer and illustrator of children’s books. In 1998, Myers won a Caldecott Honor for his illustrations in Harlem. The following year, he wrote and illustrated Black Cat, a book that received a Coretta Scott King Award (2000).In addition to writing and illustrating his own stories, Myers often illustrates books written by his father Walter Dean Myers. Some of Christopher’s books feature lies and tall tales.
Myers was born in Queens, New York City. He was raised by his father Walter Dean Myers, writer of many books,including Harlem and Monster. From a family of storytellers, Christopher Myers continues the tradition with his award winning books. An author and illustrator, Christopher Myers has received honors from both the Coretta Scott King Award and the Caldecott Award. Drawing on his collage, photography, and artistic media background, Myers makes beautiful books that children will love, first for the lush illustrations and, as they grow, for the storytelling.
Christopher Myers credits his appreciation of the importance of images to observing the objects and photographs his parents would bring home from auctions and flea markets: “little histories;” “other people’s memories that get left behind.” His own family images have had quite an impact, as well – as in a black-and-white photograph of his grandfather with a telling smile on his face. “He was a storyteller. His thick, dark, calloused hands told stories. My father tells stories. I tell stories. I’m fascinated with work, what work is, who does work, how much our identities are wrapped up in what we do with our hands. Shoeshine boy, ditchdigger, painter. My grandfather laughed at my father’s hands because they were too soft. Still I think he was proud of the fact that my father didn’t have to work with his back. This is progress.”
A graduate of Brown University, he has participated in the exclusive Whitney Museum of American Art Independent Studio Program. Myers began his children’s book career doing research to help his father, and went on to illustrate the elder Myers’ Shadow of the Red Moon.
He also designs clothing and lives in Brooklyn.
Recommended books:
- Black Cat (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books) by Christopher Myers
- Wings by Christopher Myers
- H.O.R.S.E.: A Game of Basketball and Imagination (Coretta Scott King Honor Book) by Christopher Myers
- Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers
- Harlem (Caldecott Honor Book) by Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers
- Jazz by Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers (Coretta Scott King Honor Book)
- Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll and Christopher Myers