Celebrating Poetry Month: Nikki Grimes
Above all, I admire Nikki Grimes’ commitment to poetry. Since her debut novel in 1977, she usually publishes at least one verse book, if not more, every year. Her diligence and talent for writing for the youth shines through her poetry, so it is no wonder that her work now has a dedicated group of readers.
Nikki Grimes, a poet, author, and journalist, began to write at the age of six. Since then, she has published an extensive collection of verse novels and poetry during the course of her over forty-year career. Grimes is especially adroit at form, most notably in “Legacy,” a verse novel that uses the intricacy of the golden shovel method to pay tribute to black female poets from the Harlem Renaissance. Perhaps this best demonstrates the subject of Grimes’ poetry: to bring social issues to light, particularly those pertinent to black Americans. Her personal legacy and legendary contributions have been recognized and celebrated with innumerable awards, including multiple lifetime achievement awards from the American Library Association. Come what may, we can be sure that Grimes will be with us, pen ready.
- Avalon Felice Lee
Nikki Grimes
Samples of Poetry
Nikki Grimes, 1993
Nikki Grimes, 1994
Nikki Grimes, 1996
Nikki Grimes, 1998
Nikki Grimes, 1998
Poetry Foundation, 1998
Nikki Grimes, 1999
Nikki Grimes, 1999
Nikki Grimes, 2000
Nikki Grimes, 2001
from “Stepping Out With Grandma Mac”
Nikki Grimes, 2001
Nikki Grimes, 2002
from “Talkin’ About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman”
Nikki Grimes, 2002
Nikki Grimes, 2004
from “Tai Chi Morning: Snapshots of China”
Nikki Grimes, 2004
Nikkie Grimes, 2005
from “Danitra Brown, Class Clown”
Nikki Grimes, 2005
Nikki Grimes, 2005
Nikki Grimes, 2005
Nikki Grimes, 2006
from “Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope”
Nikki Grimes, 2008
Nikki Grimes, 2009
Poetry Foundation, 2011
Missing My Old School, My Old Life, My Old Family
Nikki Grimes, 2013
Poetry Foundation, 2021
Nikki Grimes, 2021
Poetry Foundation, 2021
Poetry Foundation, 2021
Interviews & Essays
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope Audiobook Excerpt narrated by Nikki Grimes
Book Connections
Audiobook excerpt with transcript
Christian Standard, Brad Dupray, Oct 2008
Article interview
In-depth Written Interview with Nikki Grimes
TeachingBooks, April 2002
Written interview
Nikki Grimes: 2009 National Book Festival
Library of Congress, Nov 2009
Grimes’s video speech at the National Book Festival
Reading Rockets, 2014
Video interview
Allen AtPerry, 2015
Video interview
School Library Journal, Luan Toth, Feb 2017
Essay on Grimes
A Lifeline Called Hope: 2017 Wilder Medal Acceptance by Nikki Grimes
The Horn Book Inc., Nikki Grimes, Jun 2017
Transcript of Grimes’ acceptance speech at the American Library Association in Chicago
To Know Nikki Grimes Is to Know an Artist: Profile of 2017 Wilder Award Winner Nikki Grimes
The Horn Book Inc., Junko Yokota, Jun 2017
Essay on Grimes after winning the 2017 Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
Nikki Grimes: From Foster Child to Famous Author and Poet
Mackin, Amy Meythaler, Sep 2017
Article interview
A Conversation with Author Nikki Grimes
Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning, 2018
Interview
The Children's Book Podcast #570: Nikki Grimes
The Children's Book Podcast, Matthew Winner, Feb 2020
Video interview
Poetry for Children, April 2020
Essay by Grimes with poetry from “Southwest Sunrise”
Closing Out National Poetry Month with an Interview with Poet Nikki Grimes
The Hub, April 2021
Article interview
Books of poetry for young people
Something On My Mind (1978)
Illustrations by Tom Feelings
Coretta Scott King Book Awards: Illustrator Winner, 1979
From a Child’s Heart (1993)
Illustrations by Brenda Joysmith
Benjamin Franklin Picture Book Award
ABA-CBC Books Mean Business
Meet Danitra Brown (1994)
Illustrations by Floyd Cooper
Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book: Illustrator Honor, 1996
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1995
CCBC Choices, 1994
C Is For City (1995)
Illustrations by Pat Cummings
CCBC Choices, 1995
Come Sunday (1996)
Illustrations by Michael Bryant
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 1997
Wild, Wild Hair (1997)
Illustrations by George Cephas Ford
It’s Raining Laughter (1997)
Photographs by Myles C. Pinkney
CCBC Choices, 1997
A Dime a Dozen (1998)
Illustrations by Angelo
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Bank Street College: Children's Book of the Year
My Man Blue (1999)
Illustrations by Jerome Lagarrigue
Marion Vannett Ridgway Award, 2000
Hopscotch Love (1999)
Illustrations by Melodye Benson Rosales
At Break of Day (1999)
Illustrations by Paul Morin
Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices
CBC Not Just for Children Anymore List
Aneesa Lee & The Weaver’s Gift (1999)
Illustrations by Ashley Bryan
CCBC Choices, 2000
Is It Far to Zanzibar? (2000)
Illustrations by Betsy Lewin
Shoe Magic (2000)
Illustrations by Terry Widener
Bank Street College: Best Book of the Year
Nest Literary Classic
A Pocketful of Poems (2001)
Illustrations by Javaka Steptoe
CCBC Choices, 2002
Bank Street College: Best Book of the Year
Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award, 2001
Chicago Parent Best Book
Stepping Out With Grandma Mac (2001)
Illustrations by Angelo
Notable Social Studies Trade Book
Bank Street College: Best Book of the Year
Junior Library Guild Selection
When Daddy Prays (2002)
Illustrations by Tim Ladwig
Association of Theological Booksellers: Best Children's Book of 2002
Under the Christmas Tree (2002)
Illustrations by Kadir Nelson
CCBC Choices, 2003
Danitra Brown Leaves Town (2002)
Illustrations by Floyd Cooper
CCBC Choices, 2003
Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman (2002)
Illustrations by E.B. Lewis
Coretta Scott King Book Awards: Author Honor, 2003
Coretta Scott King Book Awards: Illustrator Winner, 2003
Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 2003
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 2003
CCBC Choices, 2003
Children's Literature Choice
Horn Book Fanfare, 2002
Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts
Book Link's "Lasting Connections" 2002
Scharr Medallion for contributions promoting aviation
Tai Chi Morning: Snapshots of China (2004)
Illustrations by Ed Young
What Is Goodbye? (2004)
Illustrations by Raúl Colón
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 2005
CCBC Choices, 2005
Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 2005
A Day with Daddy (2004)
Illustrations by Nicole Tadgell
At Jerusalem's Gate: Poems of Easter (2005)
Woodcuts by David Frampton
Danitra Brown, Class Clown (2005)
Illustrations by E. B. Lewis
Dark Sons (2005)
Coretta Scott King Book Awards: Author Honor, 2006
NCTE Notable Book in the Language Arts, 2006
CNN: Best Books for Kids, 2005
YALSA Best Book for Young Adults
Thanks a Million (2006)
Illustrations by Cozbi A. Cabrera
CCBC Choices, 2007
Welcome, Precious (2006)
Illustrations by Bryan Collier
When Gorilla Goes Walking (2007)
Illustrations by Shane W. Evans
Bank Street College: Best Books for Children
2009 California Readers Collection
Oh, Brother! (2007)
Illustrations by Mike Benny
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope (2008)
Illustrations by Bryan Collier
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work: Children's Category
Voices of Christmas (2009)
Illustrations by Eric Velasquez
A Girl Named Mister (2010)
Planet Middle School (2011)
CCBC Choices, 2012
Junior Library Guild Selections: Sports Selection, 2012
Bank Street College: Best Children's Book of the Year
Words with Wings (2013)
Coretta Scott King Book Awards: Author Honor, 2014
Junior Library Guild: Elementary Selection, 2014
Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 2014
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 2014
Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2013
Lee Bennett Hopkins/Penn State Award Master List
Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award: Finalist, 2015-2016
Nerdy Book Club: Finalist
Poems in the Attic (2015)
Illustrations by Elizabeth Zunon
Arnold Adoff Poetry Award for Middle Readers: Honor Award, 2016
Bank Street College: Best Children’s Books of the Year 2016
CCBC Choices, 2016
Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 2016
NCTE Notable Poetry List, 2016
Garvey's Choice (2016)
Junior Library Guild Selections: Elementary Selection, 2017
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 2017
CCBC Choices, 2017
ILA Notable Books for a Global Society
Award for Excellence in North American Poetry, 2017
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award: Honor, 2017
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2016
NCTE Notable Verse Novels 2017
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry, 2017
Cybils 2016 Book Award for Poetry: Finalist
Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award: Nominee
Paterson Prize for Books for Young Readers, Honor Book, 2017
One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance (2017)
Arnold Adoff Poetry Award for Middle Readers, 2018
Junior Library Guild Selections: Nonfiction Selection, 2017
Boston Globe-Horn Book: Honor, 2017
Bank Street College: Claudia Lewis Award, 2018
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2018
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2018
Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 2018
NCTE Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2018
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2017
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry, 2018
SLJ Best Books of the Year, 2017
VOYA 2018 Nonfiction Honor Winner, 2022
The Watcher (2017)
Illustrations by Bryan Collier
Catholic Press Association 2017 Foreword INDIES Bronze Award
Children's Book Award Honorable Mention
Junior Library Guild Selection: Religious Selection, 2018
Kirkus Prize Finalist
NCTE Notable Poetry List, 2018
WORLD Magazine: Picture Book of the Year, 2017
Between the Lines (2018)
Ordinary Hazards (2019)
Michael L. Printz Honor Book: Young Adult, 2020
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, 2020
Arnold Adoff Poetry Award, 2020
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award for Nonfiction, 2020
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 2020
Junior Library Guild Selections: Biography Selection, 2020
CCBC Choices, 2020
Bedtime for Sweet Creatures (2020)
Illustrations by Elizabeth Zunon
CCBC Choices, 2021
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, 2020
Barnes & Noble Best Book of the Year
Southwest Sunrise (2020)
Illustrations by Wendell Minor
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 2021
CCBC Choices, 2021
Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice (2020)
Illustrations by Laura Freeman
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature, 2020
Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People: Biography Selection, 2021
NAACP Image Award Nomination: Outstanding Literary Work, Children, 2021
Nerdies: Best Nonfiction Picture Books, 2020
Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance (2021)
ALSC Notable Children's Books, 2022
Jane Addams Children's Book Awards: Finalist, 2022
CCBC Choices, 2022
NCTE Notable Poetry and Verse Novels, 2022
SLJ Best Books of the Year, 2021
Junior Library Guild Selections: Nonfiction Selection, 2021
Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature: Finalist, 2021
Off to See the Sea (2021)
Illustrations by Elizabeth Zunon
Examples of Recognition
Golden Dolphin Award, 2005
NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, 2006
Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, 2016
Children's Literature Legacy Award, 2017
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, 2017
ALAN Award for outstanding contributions to young adult literature, 2020
Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers’ Literature, 2022
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award: Nomination, 2022
Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, 2022
