Headshot: Amy Lombard
Kevin Maillard
Kevin Noble Maillard is a professor and journalist who lives with his family on the 13th floor of a 115-year old bank in the heart of Manhattan. He is a regular writer for the New York Times, and has interviewed politicians, writers, tribal leaders, and even some movie stars. His debut children’s book Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story won the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal and was a 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner. When he was 13 years old, he won a fishing derby for catching 72 fish in two hours. Originally from Oklahoma, he is a member of the Seminole Nation, Mekusukey band.
Speaking Topics:
Multiracial Diversity
Americans are more culturally fluid than they realize, and this collective diversity is an underutilized valuable resource. Speaking from experience as a lawyer, professor, children's book author, and father, Kevin Noble Maillard looks at how heterogenous identity can enhance creativity and improve performance through robust engagement with our flexible social identities.
Parenting Equality
The current solution for establishing more household gender equity is “men should do more,” but what would the results be with an equal emphasis on “women should do less” in efforts to redistribute household responsibilities and alleviate maternal defaults?
Endorsements:
Run, don’t walk if you have an opportunity to see and hear Kevin Noble Maillard, journalist, professor, and awarding-winning children’s book author. As a member of the Seminole Nation, he offers readers and listeners insight into a community of rich and diverse traditions as he shares memories and family stories. Maillard is a natural storyteller who is equally engaging—and entertaining—on writing for children and collaboration. His warm and powerful presentations for professionals and students are guaranteed to leave lasting impressions.
—Daryl Grabarek, Librarian, freelance editor and writer, NYC
Hearing Kevin Noble Maillard speak on the author panel at the School Library Journal 2019 Leadership Summit was a real privilege. He is a warm and engaging speaker who celebrates the diversity and culture of modern native families through his poetic text in Fry Bread. Librarians and other educators looking for diverse books and stories to share with young people will enjoy this author’s voice and strong sense of family.
—Jenny Takeda, a district librarian in Beaverton, Oregon
I had the good fortune to hear Kevin Noble Maillard speak at a recent national school library conference. Since then, his debut picture book, Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, has received numerous accolades, including the 2020 Robert Sibert Medal. This recognition is evidence of his capacity to tell a personal story that resonates with others. At the conference I attended, the author’s storytelling skills contributed to his entirely enjoyable presentation.