Christopher Myers, American author and illustrator of children’s books and playwright, celebrates his birth date on Oct. 17, 1974, in Queens, N.Y.

His dad, Walter Dean Myers, is a well-known author of children’s books. In the mid-1990s, Christopher started illustrating his father’s books, and eventually wrote several with his dad. His grandfather had a knack for telling creative stories. Christopher grew up wanting to tell his own stories; but, his first love was drawing.

Christopher earned a BA in Art-Semiotics and American Civilization in 1995 from Brown University in Rhode Island. He published and illustrated his own book “Black Cat” in 1999, and in 2000, he began to exhibit his art. He has done tapestries, sculpture and stained glass. He has partnered on works in theater, dance, opera and film.

He has received many awards for illustrating his father’s books, as well as his own. His illustrations have combined painting, photography and collage. He is a talented fine artist who has lectured and exhibited internationally. He won the Caldecott Honor in 1998 for illustrating the book “Harlem” and the Coretta Scott King Award in 2016 for illustrating “Firebird” with Misty Copeland.

Christopher currently lives and works in Brooklyn, N.Y.