Now y’all know I must use my own letters to express how I feel.
That said, I am so pleased to learn that Go Tell It will receive the Sugarman Biography Award this fall, which is given biennially by Cleveland Public Library. I am joyful because this national award shines a bright spotlight on the young people of Cleveland Public City Schools, where I taught 2nd grade for 7 years. And thanks to this notable honor, more young readers, here in Cleveland and beyond, will get their fingerprints on the rich legacy of James Baldwin’s early childhood.
Fun fact: I remember imagining winning this award after I moderated a discussion with the previous winner, @angelajoybooks , for her amazing picture book, Choosing Brave, at the 2024 Sugarman Award Ceremony. It was abound with Cleveland Public City School students. But I cannot believe that this possibility was actually realized.
Congratulations to @gordoncjamesfineart too because Go Tell It isn’t possible without his paintbrush and cheers to all the honorees!
GO TELL IT: HOW JAMES BALDWIN BECAME A WRITER is a USA Today Bestseller!! Congratulations to Quartez Harris (@quartezh ), #SerendipityLit illustrator Gordon C. James (@gordoncjamesfineart ), and the incredible team at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers!
GO TELL IT is a stunning poetic introduction to James Baldwin’s life and work and a celebration of the power of language.
You can find the full bestseller list in the link in our bio!
GO TELL IT is available now from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (@littlebrownyoungreaders ).
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#QuartezHarris #GordonCJames #GoTellIt #HowJamesBaldwinBecameaWriter #JamesBaldwin #GoTellItontheMountain #DiverseLiterature #BlackAuthors #POCinPub #DiverseKidLit #ChildrensBooks #PictureBooks #IllustratedBooks #BlackCreatorsInKidlit #TheWashingtonPost #BookReviews
Watching my creative writing students read their impressive mix of poems and short stories publicly is life-giving. Here are a few stunning shots of some of them reading their work yesterday at @clevelandschoolofthearts ’s Festival of New Works. I love what language does for young people.
Congratulations to Quartez Harris (@quartezh ) and #SerendipityLit illustrator Gordon C. James (@gordoncjamesfineart ) on GO TELL IT: HOW JAMES BALDWIN BECAME A WRITER being named the winner of the 2026 Norman A. Sugarman Children’s Biography Award!
They write that: “This title offers a powerful and evocative portrait of James Baldwin, illuminating the formative experiences that shaped his voice and vision.”
Given biennially by the Cleveland Public Library (@clevelandpubliclibrary ), the Norman A. Sugarman Award was named after prominent tax attorney Norman A. Sugarman and is presented to a writer and/or illustrator of a new biography for children in kindergarten through 8th grade.
You can read the full list of winners and nominees here using the link in our bio.
GO TELL IT is available now from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (@littlebrownyoungreaders ).
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#QuartezHarris #GordonCJames #GoTellIt #NormanASugarmanChildrensAward #ChildrensBiography
I’ve been so fortunate to see Go Tell It on many different shelves, but it simply doesn’t get any better than this. Warm thank you to @habibtibookshop for putting my book and @iamkortney ’s stunning, debut poetry collection, RUN IT BACK, side by side. As Kortney always says, “we are better together.” And don’t our books look so good together? Also, if you have the means, please support @habibtibookshop . It’s the coolest mobile pop up bookshop in North Carolina.
We’re honored to announce the 2026 Norman A. Sugarman Children’s Biography Award winners, celebrating outstanding biographies that bring history’s most influential voices to life for young readers.
This year’s winner is “Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer” by Quartez Harris and illustrated by Gordon C. James.
2026 Honor Books include “And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison’s Life in Stories” by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Daniel Minter, and “Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos” by Nathalie Alonso and illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez.
Celebrating stories that inspire curiosity, connection, and a deeper appreciation of the people who shape our world.
Learn more: Link in bio
I read one poem yesterday in an independent bookstore for a poetry crawl and that was enough. It was exactly what I needed. Felt great being a poet, again. I even woke up this morning and decided to submit three poems for a chance to be published in a journal issue. I don’t submit my work often, but my wife, @iamkortney , inspired me to give it a try. In the meantime, I get to learn and make mistakes as I try my hand at a middle grade novel in our writing studio.
This past weekend was a good time. I had the honor of being one of the featured authors at the @unboundbookfestival in Columbia Missouri. I spoke about Go Tell It at two different elementary schools and gave a presentation at the Columbia Public library, walking listeners through an exploration of James Baldwin’s early years and the history of his favorite library, the 135th street library, now notably known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Special thanks to my speaking agency @authorsunbound for this meaningful connect.
Also peep the lit shirt created by my creative writing student @a.tom08 from @clevelandschoolofthearts . It reads, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time to write.” James Baldwin
In this world of book making, I’ve discovered some extraordinary independent bookstores and @aliceeverafterbooks stands out for its beautiful “collection of diverse children’s literature.”
By offering a sequence of events for the hearts and minds of young readers, their impact extends beyond the page.
So pumped to be in a deep hearted conversation with my new homie @queendomteaching in Buffalo about our shared love of picture books. Listen, I already asked them to style me for this event because their wardrobe is stunning. See for yourself.
Time spun and I arrived at the rich age of 36, which is a sign of living well and a new way of paying more attention because a full life requires just that, our tender attention.
Though it’s my birthday, I am doing my usual cruise—gym this morning, crisp cut, car wash and of course, you guessed it . . . spending some time at a coffee shop. My safehouse. I’ll have a few friends and family over at the house me & Kortney purchased this year. So yeah, I’ve grown. It’s wild. Speaking of wild, we’ll play uno wild. Have you played it?
Keeping it not just simple, but alive. 📷 @iamkortney
