12 Rounds To Glory
Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award
2008
“It is the text by Charles R. Smith Jr. that illuminates the dazzle and daring of Ali, and ultimately the spiritual calm.” – The New York Times
My People
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award
2010
“In its visual simplicity, [Smith]’s picture-book presentation is a tour de force.” –Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Rimshots
Assorted Reluctant Reader Awards
1999
“This unconventional book might well sneak up on kids who don’t think they like to read and score a slam-dunk.”– Publisher’s Weekly
28 Days
“A stellar achievement for the whole year—not just its shortest month.” – Kirkus Review
I Am America
“Children will enjoy finding themselves and their friends and talking about their differences and connections.” – Booklist
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I Am the World
“In this slim volume, photography and verse come together to present a youthful showcase of diversity, beauty, strength, and joy.” – School Library Journal
If
“Kipling’s powerful poem comes to life for a contemporary audience in atmospheric photographs that use the metaphor of sports.” – School Library Journal
Hoop Kings
“This book will have enormous appeal for all ages; basketball fans will love it, but so will others who respond to color, lively language, and energy. Readers will experience a wild ride!” – School Library Journal
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Hoop Queens
“Smith’s infectious wordplay may encourage young basketball fans to invent their own creative ways to describe the things they love. A great choice to energize poetry units.” – Booklist
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Brick by Brick
“An excellent title that provides an admirably accurate picture of slavery in America for younger readers.” –Kirkus Review
Black Jack
“This book is sure to be championed by reluctant readers with energy and restlessness just like Johnson’s, but it is a strong selection for library and classroom read-alouds as well.” – School Library Journal
Stars in The Shadows
“Writing in snappy rhymed couplets, Smith delivers a play-by-play, inning-by-inning account of the second annual East-West Classic, held in Chicago in 1934, an all-star face-off between the best players from the Negro League.” –Publisher’s Weekly
Chameleon
“Kids will grab this for the immediacy in the scenes, the brutal standoffs, the fast talk at the ball court, and the elemental conflicts of coming-of-age.” – Booklist
Pick-Up Game
“Such luminaries as Walter Dean Myers, Bruce Brooks, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Robert Lipsyte examine the ways in which players, wannabes, and hangers-on interact in the vibrant, freewheeling subculture of inner-city playground hoops.” – School Library Journal
One Death Nine Stories
“Complex and emotionally demanding, this collection aims for and will resonate with serious readers of realistic fiction.” — Kirkus Reviews
Tall Tales
“…this title will score big points with anyone who appreciates the magic of a ball and a hoop.” – School Library Journal
The Mighty 12
“Fans of fantasy, comic books, and adventure stories will be irresistibly drawn to The Mighty 12 for general reading.” – School Library Journal
Winning Words
“Smith does a fine job of evoking the action and character of the games, in words and in close-up photos. An excellent choice for reading aloud, this book should win over a wide audience, including reluctant readers.” – School Library Journal
Dance With Me
“The use of repetitive, highly chant-able wording engages this book’s very young audience, supporting language development even as it encourages them to throw their whole bodies into the experience of reading it.” – Kirkus Reviews
Brown Sugar Babies
This title is currently out of print in hardcover but will soon be brought back as a board book!
Short Takes
“Stylish and immediate, this is perfect for teachers seeking accessible material for poetry units and for young fans of the game.”– Booklist
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Let’s Play Basketball
Currently unavailable but can be found in your local library system.
Author’s Note: I prefer to sell my books here on Indie Bound to help support local independent bookstores, but some books are only available on Amazon.