Derrick Barnes is an award-winning author, speaker, and educator. He is best known for his critically acclaimed children’s books, including Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, which won the 2018 Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award and was a New York Times Bestseller. His other works include the picture book Ruby and the Booker Boys series. Barnes is passionate about inspiring young people to reach their full potential. He has spoken at schools, libraries, and conferences across the country, and his work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. He is also the founder of the Crown Coalition, a national organization that works to ensure that all children have access to quality haircuts. Barnes is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania. He currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and two children. He is dedicated to creating stories that celebrate the beauty and power of Black culture and to helping young people discover their own unique gifts.