Charles R. Smith Jr. is an acclaimed author, poet, and photographer. He was the recipient of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for his photography in My People, a picture book based on the poem by Langston Hughes. He was the first photographer to win the award. He also won the Coretta Scott King Author Honor for writing Twelve Rounds to Glory: The story of Muhammad Ali. Charles has over twenty-five books to his credit, including If: A Father’s Advice to His Son, based on the poem by Rudyard Kipling, which he did photographs for. A native of Los Angeles, California, Charles now lives with his family in Poughkeepsie, New York. If he’s not working on a project or visiting a school, Charles enjoys martial arts, coaching youth sports, and spending time with his kids.