Jerry Craft Books In Order

Publication Order of New Kid Books

Publication Order of Children's Books

About Jerry Craft

A children’s author and writer of graphic novels, the American illustrator and novelist Jerry Craft is well known for his colorful and vibrant style. Really bringing his stories to life in full color, he has definitely managed to make a name for himself as one of the brightest storytellers around. Telling his stories in an accessible manner, he really relates to his young readers, allowing them to fully invest themselves in the narratives. This has resounded worldwide, giving scores of readers from across the globe the benefit of what he has to say, and the message he has to give. Really letting his characters speak for themselves, he lets their personalities leap off the page almost, giving them a voice that’s entirely unique to them.

This is something that he has refined over the years, developing his skills as an author, allowing his words to form rich and inventive worlds. Taking his readers on a journey effectively, he manages to let his audience essentially invest themselves in the action and narrative. With more books set to follow, his idiosyncratic voice will be an asset for generations to come, as he isn’t stopping any time soon.

Early and Personal Life

With a clear creative streak showing from an early age, the writer and illustrator to be Jerry Craft was always looking for new and innovative ways with which to express himself. Born in Harlem in the United States and growing up in Washington Heights, he would constantly be on the lookout for ways to get his ideas across, and soon this turned to literature. Showing a talent for both the written word and art, he would refine and hone his skills throughout the intervening years to follow. Attending ‘The Fieldston School’ as well, he would go on to gain his B.F.A. from the ‘School of Visual Arts’ there as well.

This would all lead to him focusing himself on illustrating and advancing his craft as a storyteller simultaneously. In time he would come to make a name for himself, one which would develop and evolve exponentially, garnering the attention of his many peers and contemporaries. Many readers worldwide would also sit up and take notice too, as he continues to write from his home in Connecticut.

Writing Career

Illustrating extensively over the years, Jerry Craft has largely made a name for himself working with various other authors and writers. This has allowed him to build a profile throughout the community as a whole, with many writers taking notice of his many talents. It would be in 2019 though, that he would write his first book, which would be titled ‘New Kid’, which would be targeted towards a middle grade reading audience.

Winning numerous awards for the book, he would quickly become a name of high regard, as many reviewers and critics took notice too. Receiving five African American Awards for his work, he has managed to rapidly rise in prominence, along with his receiving recognition from the Junior Library Guild as well. He would also create ‘Mama’s Boyz’, which would be a ‘King Features Syndicate’ comic-strip production running from 1995 to 2013. A regular fixture on the literary scene both online and off, he continues to maintain a strong profile to this present day.

New Kid

Brought out initially through the ‘HarperCollins’ publishing label, this would first come out in 2019 on the 5th of February to a great deal of acclaim. Winning a number of awards, it would essentially be a stand-alone title that would be both written and illustrated by Jerry Craft himself. Putting part of himself into the story, it shows him at the height of his powers as a writer, really bringing the story and the world to life.

Drawing somewhat from his own life experiences, Jerry Craft really makes sure to give this book a real grounded sense about it. His central character of Jordan Banks also feels extremely real too, allowing the younger readers to really relate to what he’s going through. This also goes for the location of the school too, as it’s brought in to three-dimensional full color for the audience, allowing them to feel as if they’re actually there. Creating a style that is all of his very own, this is Craft writing about a subject that is extremely important to him and it shows, as the story is related with both care and passion.

Struggling to fit in to new school, seventh grader Jordan Banks is essentially the ‘new kid’ there, as he aims to find his place. Set in a school with an apparently low level of diversity, this makes it even harder, as he finds the whole situation to be a little daunting. Wanting nothing more than to go to an art academy, he has been sent to an extremely prestigious private school that is most notable for its academics. Attending the Riverdale Academy Day School, he has to commute from his home in Washington Heights, as he finds himself torn between two worlds. Will he be able to overcome all the obstacles and belong? Can he make a name for himself here? What will become of the new kid?

Illustration Work

Working with a whole host of different writers, Jerry Craft has been a regular fixture on the circuit for quite some time now. Making a name for himself working alongside writers such as Patrick Henry Bass he has built a strong reputation for himself. He would also produce anthologies of his own work, such as the release of ‘Mama’s Boyz: In Living Color!’ which would come out in 2017 with a foreword from Lynn Johnston. Other works would include anthologies with other authors, like ‘Artists Against Police Brutality’, which would take on a somewhat more serious tone, writing alongside other artists in an effort to combat police brutality, with this being released in 2015. Whilst much of it is his own work too, he is widely regarded as being an extremely collaborative artist, as well as being an exemplary storyteller.