Frank Morrison (born 1971) is an American illustrator of children's literature and graffiti artist.
Before becoming an illustrator, Morrison travelled globally as a breakdancer with The Sugarhill Gang.
Morrison published his first book, Brenda C. Roberts's Jazzy Miz Mozetta, with Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 2004. His illustrations for the book won him the 2005 John Steptoe Award for New Talent (Illustrator). He has since illustrated over 35 published, including fiction and non-fiction picture books, books for early readers, and middle grade books. In 2022, he published his debut book as a writer and illustrator, Kick Push, with Bloomsbury USA. Since publishing his first book, he has received many awards and honors, including winning a Crystal Kite Award and two Coretta Scott King Awards in addition to the John Steptoe Award.
As of 2024, Morrison lives with his wife and five children in Atlanta.
Contents
Awards and honors
Fourteen of Morrison's books are Junior Library Guild selections: ¡Jonron! (Out of the Ballpark) (2007); Keena Ford and the Second Grade Mix-Up (2008); Keena Ford and the Secret Journal Mix-Up (2010); Long Shot (2010); The Quickest Kid in Clarksville (2016); How Sweet the Sound (2018); March Forward, Girl (2018); Starstruck (2018); The Roots of Rap (2019); Above the Rim (2020); Kick Push (2022); Uncle John's City Garden (2022); How Do You Spell Unfair? (2023); and My Block Looks Like (2024).
In 2015, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) included Little Melba and Her Big Trombone on their list of the year's Notable Children's Books.
In 2016, Booklist included The Quickest Kid in Clarksville on their list of the "Top 10 Sports Books for Youth".
In 2017, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground was on Booklist's list of the "Top 10 Arts Books for Youth". The following year, they included it on their "Top 10 Diverse Fiction for Older and Middle Readers" list, and the ALSC named it among the year's Notable Children Books.
In 2018, Booklist included How Sweet the Sound on their "Top 10 Religion & Spirituality for Youth" list. The same year, the New York Public Library named March Forward, Girl among the best books of the year. The following year, the ALSC named both March Forward, Girl and Let the Children March among the year's Notable Children's Books.
In 2019, The Roots of Rap was named one of the best books of the year by the Chicago Public Library, Kirkus Reviews, and the New York Public Library. Booklist also included it on their list of the "Top 10 Arts Books for Youth".
In 2020, Booklist included R-E-S-P-E-C-T on their list of the "Top 10 Arts Books for Youth". The same year, they included Above the Rim on their "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth" list. The following year, it was on Booklist's "Top 10 Sports Books for Youth" list, and the ALSC named it a Notable Children's Book.
In 2023, Booklist included Breaking to the Beat! on their lists of the "Top 10 Sports Books for Youth" and "Top 10 Arts Books for Youth". The same year, they included How Do You Spell Unfair? on their "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth" list. Kirkus Reviews also named it among the best picture books of 2023, and Bank Street College of Education named it a book of outstanding merit merit for children ages five to nine in 2024. That year, the ALSC and International Literacy Association (CL/R SIG) named it a notable children's book, and Booklist named it among the "Top 10 History Books for Youth".
Publications
As author
Kick Push. Bloomsbury. 2022. ISBN 978-1-5476-0592-7.
As illustrator
Thomson, Melissa (2008). Keena Ford and the Second Grade Mix Up. Dial Books. ISBN 978-0-803-73263-6.
Thomson, Melissa (2010). Keena Ford and the Secret Journal Mix-Up. Dial Books. ISBN 978-0-803-73465-4.
Weinstein, Muriel Harris (2010). Play, Louis, Play!: The True Story of a Boy and His Horn. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1-599-90375-0.
Smith Jr., Charles R. (2012). Stars in the Shadows: The Negro League All-Star Game of 1934. Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0-689-86638-8.
DePrince, Michaela; DePrince, Elaine (2014). Ballerina Dreams: From Orphan to Dancer. Random House Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0-385-75515-3.
Williams-Garcia, Rita (2017). Clayton Byrd Goes Underground. Quill Tree Books. ISBN 978-0-062-21591-8.
Zoboi, Ibi (2019). My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich. Dutton Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0-399-18735-3.
Grimes, Nikki (2017). One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1-619-63554-8.
Beals, Melba Pattillo (2018). March Forward, Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine. Clarion Books. ISBN 978-1-328-88212-7.
Roberts, Brenda C. (2004). Jazzy Miz Mozetta. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-33674-5.
Taylor, Debbie A. (2004). Sweet Music in Harlem. Lee & Low. ISBN 978-1-58430-165-3.
Norman, Lissette (2006). My Feet Are Laughing. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-35096-3.