Quartez

Harris

Poet of the Year

Bestselling Children’s Author

Travels from: Cleveland, OH

“In descriptive and poetic language, this book reveals how reading and writing were powerful motivators for young James Baldwin. … This book is especially recommended because it not only explains the growth of a successful writer, but it also can stimulate discussions of the ways in which reading and writing enrich our lives.” — School Library Journal, starred review

Quartez Harris is a poet and teaching artist. He was awarded the Baldwin House Fellowship and named Ohio Association’s Poet of the Year for his book, We Made It to School Alive.

His poetry has received numerous accolades. Harris spent many years as a second-grade teacher in the Cleveland public school system and currently dedicates his time to living within books, writing, and running poetry workshops. He exemplifies the transformative power of literature. His inspiring literary works and passionate advocacy for education and personal growth stem from his own experiences. As a student, Harris struggled with reading and writing, but the support from his IEP teacher, Mr. Moore, along with his aunt’s love for language, played a crucial role in fostering his love for words.

His newest book is Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer (January 2025), is a USA Today Bestseller and serves as an ode to the childhood of American icon James Baldwin and the power of storytelling, illustrated by Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honoree Gordon C. James.

Quartez's Featured Titles

Breaking the Mold: Your Past Self Doesn’t Define You

Quartez will share his inspiring journey from struggling with reading and writing as an elementary and middle school student, to later developing a passion for poetry to encouraging young people to be a reading writer. After taking students through his own life as a reader and student, he will give students the opportunity to reflect on their own educational experiences in their writing through the use of mentor texts and self-reflection.

Empowering Creativity & Confidence Through Storytelling

Through interactive read aloud, discussions and storytelling sessions, Quartez fosters an atmosphere of creativity and enthusiasm, empowering scholars to embrace their own writing talents and express themselves confidently.

We’re All Writers

Quartez’s visit will provide scholars with a unique opportunity to connect with a celebrated author, share their own creative works, and gain valuable insights into the world of literature and storytelling. His passion for writing and dedication to uplifting others will leave a lasting impression on students, inspiring them to pursue their dreams with courage and determination.

Playing with Poetry

As a writer, Quartez knows that you have to read far more than you write. In this imitative poetry workshop, Quartez will walk students through select poems as they choose language, stylistic choices, and form they can use to inspire their own writing. Students will leave with pieces honoring the poets that inspire them, further emboldening them to read more than they write in their own practice.

Breaking Linear Thinking in Poetry

Not every piece of poetry needs to make sense or reveal its meaning clearly. You can create mystery in language and that can make it playful. In this workshop, we will explore exercises to create playful poems that, while intentionally leaving meaning behind, create their own unique meaning within themselves. Students will mine existing poems for inspiration and word choice in order to create unique pieces that create beauty in their meaninglessness.

Find the Library Kid in You

Baldwin was a library kid, who enjoyed going to the library three or four days a week. During this talk, Quartez will walk listeners through an exploration of the history of Baldwin’s favorite library, the 135th Street Library in Harlem, NY, and discuss the special events that libraries put on, community resources, how libraries have become invaluable to the community and why Baldwin would want YOU to find out what’s at your local library.

“Quartez Harris is an absolute inspiration. During his author visit at Wolf Creek Elementary for Read Across America and Career Day, he captivated nearly 200 second and third graders with his dynamic blend of reading and storytelling. His ability to engage young minds is truly remarkable. What moved me most was Quartez’s personal journey—from being told as a child that he would never be able to read to becoming an elementary school teacher, bestselling author, and advocate for literacy. His resilience and passion for storytelling not only defied the odds but now serve as a powerful reminder to students that their dreams are always within reach. Quartez has an undeniable gift for connecting with children and inspiring them to see the greatness within themselves. Any school or organization looking to empower young readers and future leaders would be lucky to host him.” — Felita Bunn, Program Manager, National Youth Book Conference, 2025

“We were honored to welcome author Quartez Harris for a special visit with our K-2 students, featuring his powerful book Go Tell It. His visit was nothing short of magical—engaging, empowering, and deeply inspiring. Quartez captivated our young learners with his storytelling, encouraging them to find their voices and embrace the power of their words. For my students, this visit was more than just an author reading—it was a spark. They left feeling excited about reading and eager to write their own stories! Quartez’s message of inclusion and self-expression resonated deeply, making every child feel seen and valued. His visit reminded us all that our words matter, our voices deserve to be heard, and our stories have the power to change the world. It was truly an unforgettable experience!” — Maggie Bird, General Wayne Elementary School, 2025

“Quartez Harris is a special talent, not only as an excellent poet and writer but also as an engaging speaker. Quartez’s background in education shines in his ability to connect to his audience and share his passion and knowledge for James Baldwin, poetry, writing, and life. Harris’s debut picture book Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer offers a vital resource that has been missing from America’s bookshelves – a way to introduce Baldwin’s extraordinary life, profound ideas, and transformative words to young readers.” — Zach Parish, Bexley Public Library

“Quartez Harris is a dynamic speaker, writer, and poet whose connection with students shines through in every presentation. His live poetry captivates and inspires—there’s nothing quite like it! Quartez brings energy, authenticity, and a genuine connection that makes his sessions unforgettable.” — Erica Marks, Cleveland Public Library

“Quartez was called upon to help bring life, love, laughter & reading to scholars and educators at the 2024 Cleveland Public Library’s Sugarman Awards. He brought joy to the scholars as he interacted with them around the love of literature.” — Jacqueline Lamb, Cleveland Public Library

“Every time I’m lucky enough to be in community with Quartez Harris, I see kids and adults learning in, nodding their heads in understanding, taking in his personal story as a learner, a reader, a writer. As he shares his words and his truth, Quartez brings us into his deep belief that we all have a story to tell. He leaves us ready to put our pen to paper and use our voices as poets & storytellers, educators & learners. It’s beautiful, energizing and joyful.” — Lisa Vahey, Co-Founder of Honesty of Ohio Education, 2024

“During his visit to RECMS, Quartez Harris engaged scholars with his dynamic presence and encouraging words. Through interactive discussions and storytelling sessions, he fostered an atmosphere of creativity and enthusiasm, empowering scholars to embrace their own writing talents and express themselves confidently.” — Rayen Early College Middle School, 2024

“Quartez has been excellent to work with as a teaching artist, and knows how to speak to and interact with truly all ages. I have seen him in action in front of crowds of 2 and 200, and the same connection with his listeners is always there. With a deep breadth of knowledge (across many content areas) and a palpable, contagious passion for his work and for his students, he can achieve his objectives with even the most reticent of participants. Quartez’s passion for education clearly drives everything he does, and we trust his experience and expertise to be able to handle whatever we throw at him! We’d gladly hire him over and over again!” — Khaki Hermann, Kulture Kids

“Quartez Harris is an exceptional author, poet, teacher, and remarkable individual. He has greatly enriched Lake Erie Ink’s youth programming and mission. He embodies the role model and inspiration our next generation truly needs—a shining gem of talent, connection, and relevance.” — Charisse Bailey, Lake Erie Ink

“This past school year, we had Quartez host writers’ workshops for our students. These workshops were incredibly successful. Our students were highly engaged and created some amazing original works. Quartez was professional and inspiring, and he worked well with our students. We would absolutely have Quartez back to host more workshops. I recommend Quartez to any school that wants to foster creative writing and literacy, while inspiring students to reach within themselves and produce poetry that they didn’t think was possible.” — Kristen DeToro, Instructional couch

135th Street Branch, New York Public Library Link

Honors, Awards & Recognition

USA Today Bestseller
Ohio Poetry Association’s Poet of the Year, 2021
School Library Journal, starred review
The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review
Publishers Weekly, starred review
Kirkus, starred review
BookPage, starred review