About Keenan
For Keenan Jones, a college basketball injury opened the door to a new path—storytelling. Growing up in Gary, Indiana and the south suburbs of Chicago, he was surrounded by a family of educators, pastors, athletes, and musicians, all of whom shaped his belief in the power of community and the importance of representation. Now living in Plymouth, Minnesota, Keenan writes stories that reflect the beauty of Black culture in America and the ways books can inspire young people to dream and strive for greatness.
His debut picture book, Saturday Morning at the ‘Shop (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, 2025), illustrated by Ken Daley, follows a young boy who discovers the vital role a neighborhood barbershop plays in community and culture. A 2022 Mirrors and Windows Fellow with The Loft Literary Center, Keenan also teaches writing workshops and speaks on the importance of literacy, representation, and storytelling. He is passionate about ensuring every child has the opportunity to see themselves in the pages of a book.
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Biography
Keenan Jones is an author who currently resides in Plymouth, Minnesota, who spent his childhood in Gary, Indiana and south suburban Chicago. He comes from a family of educators, pastors, athletes, and musicians. After suffering a career-ending injury while playing college basketball, Keenan pursued a career in education, serving as an elementary school teacher before returning to his passion of writing.
As an author, Keenan believes that literacy can inspire young people to dream and strive for greatness. He is committed to providing every child with the opportunity to immerse themselves in great books. Keenan writes stories that reflect the beauty of Black culture in America and aims to create representation in children’s literature.
Keenan’s first book, Saturday Morning at the ‘Shop, follows a young boy who spends the day at his local barbershop and discovers the important role it plays in Black culture and community. The book was released on January 7th, 2025 by Beach Lane Books (Simon and Schuster) and illustrated by Ken Daley. Saturday Morning at the ‘Shop is in stores and online worldwide!
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