Derrick Barnes is the author of the empowering New York Times bestsellers The King of Kindergarten, I Am Every Good Thing, which won the NCTE Charlotte Huck Award and the Kirkus Prize, and Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, which received a Newbery Honor, a Coretta Scott King Honor, the Kirkus Prize, and the Ezra Jack Keats Award. He also wrote the bestselling chapter book series Ruby and the Booker Boys. Derrick is a native of Kansas City, MO and a graduate of Jackson State University and was the first African American male creative copywriter hired by greeting card giant, Hallmark Cards. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and their four sons.

Gordon C. James illustrated the critically acclaimed picture book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut (by Derrick Barnes), which received a Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, an Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor, the 2018 Kirkus Prize for Young Readers, and a Society of Illustrators Gold Medal. He also illustrated Let 'Er Buck!: George Fletcher, the People's Champion (by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson). He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and two children.

THE CROWN TEAM IS BACK! Derrick and Gordon's Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut was published to incredible acclaim, including a Newbery Honor, a Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Honors, and an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award and New Illustrator Honor.

KING OF KINDERGARTEN IS A NY TIMES BESTSELLER and received four starred reviews.

EMPOWERING MESSAGE CELEBRATING BLACK BOY MAGIC: A direct challenge to the negative way the world often perceives kids of color, this book is a brilliant affirmation of positive qualities.

JOYFUL ILLUSTRATIONS OF PROUD BLACK KIDS bursting with energy and confidence.

FANTASTIC READ-ALOUD: The engaging rhythmic text reads like a motivational poem.