We are incredibly honored to have Christopher Paul Curtis and Nic Stone in conversation for the 25th anniversary of The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.  This truly is a not to be missed event! This event will be held digitally via Crowdcast. Click here to register for the event with a donation of any amount of your choice. Donations will go to Black Lives Matter DC. You can order the book on our website and there will also be an option to buy the book during the event.

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Newbery and Coretta Scott King Honoree about an unforgettable family on a road-trip during one of the most important times in the civil rights movement. This special edition makes a perfect gift and includes bonus content.

When the Watson family—ten-year-old Kenny, Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron—sets out on a trip south to visit Grandma in Birmingham, Alabama, they don’t realize that they’re heading toward one of the darkest moments in America’s history. The Watsons’ journey reminds us that even in the hardest times, laughter and family can help us get through anything.

“A modern classic.” —NPR

“Marvelous… both comic and deeply moving.” —The New York Times

“One of the best novels EVER.” —Jacqueline Woodson, Newbery Honor and National Book Award–winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming

Bonus Content
• New foreword and afterword from the author
• Map of the Watsons’ journey
• Original manuscript pages and letter from the Newbery committee
• Personal essays celebrating the book’s legacy by award-winning authors Jacqueline Woodson, Varian Johnson, and Kate DiCamillo

Christopher Paul Curtis won the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award for his bestselling second novel, Bud, Not Buddy. His first novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963, was also singled out for many awards, and has been a bestseller in hardcover and paperback. 2020 marks the books 25th anniversary. His most recent novels for Random House include The Mighty Miss Malone, Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission, Mr. Chickee's Funny Money, and Bucking the Sarge. He lives with his family in Windsor, Ontario.

Nic Stone is an Atlanta native and a Spelman College graduate. Her debut novel for young adults, Dear Martin, and her debut middle-grade novel, Clean Getaway, were both New York Times bestsellers. She is also the author of Odd One Out, a novel about discovering oneself and who it is okay to love, which was an NPR Best Book of the Year and a Rainbow Book List Top Ten selection, Jackpot, a love-ish story that takes a searing look at economic inequality and Shuri: A Black Panther Novel based on the much-loved character from the Black Panther comics and film. Dear Justyce, the sequel to Dear Martin, was published on September 29, 2020. Nic lives in Atlanta with her family. Find her online at nicstone.info or @nicstone.

Please note Loyalty has a zero tolerance policy for harassment or intimidation of any kind during this virtual event.

Christopher Paul Curtis and Nic Stone for THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM —1963