Nikki Grimes
Encyclopedia
Nikki Grimes is an American
author and illustrator
of books written for children and young adults, as well as a poet
and journalist
. Grimes was born in Harlem, New York.
In a conversation with a Reading is Fundamental
interviewer, Ms. Grimes stated "Books were my survival tools. They were how I got by, and how I coped with things. Books carried me away." As an author whose work appeals to readers of all ages, her poetry and books help carry her readers away.
She has been a guest lecturer at international school
s in Sweden
, Tanzania
, China
, and Russia
. She has written articles for magazines such as Today's Christian Woman and Essence
. Her interests and talents are diverse and include photography
, fiber art
, and beading.
Grimes currently resides in Corona, California
and continues to write poetry and books for children and young adults. She is on the board of directors for the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance
. Her work has earned her honors and recognition from a number of prestigious organizations.
Her novel Bronx Masquerade was named the Coretta Scott King Award book in 2002. The Coretta Scott King Award
is "given to African American
author
s and illustrator
s for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
of books written for children and young adults, as well as a poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. Grimes was born in Harlem, New York.
In a conversation with a Reading is Fundamental
Reading Is Fundamental
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. is the oldest and largest nonprofit literacy organization in the United States. Founded in 1966, it is based in Washington, D. C.. RIF's community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory provide 4.5 million children with 16 million new, free books and literacy...
interviewer, Ms. Grimes stated "Books were my survival tools. They were how I got by, and how I coped with things. Books carried me away." As an author whose work appeals to readers of all ages, her poetry and books help carry her readers away.
She has been a guest lecturer at international school
International school
An International school is loosely defined as a school that promotes international education, in an international environment, either by adopting an international curriculum such as that of the International Baccalaureate or Cambridge International Examinations, or by following a national...
s in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. She has written articles for magazines such as Today's Christian Woman and Essence
Essence (magazine)
Essence is a monthly magazine for African-American women between the ages of 18 and 49. The magazine covers fashion, lifestyle and beauty with an intimate girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone.-History:...
. Her interests and talents are diverse and include photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, fiber art
Fiber art
Fiber art is a style of fine art which uses textiles such as fabric, yarn, and natural and synthetic fibers. It focuses on the materials and on the manual labour involved as part of its significance.-Fiber:...
, and beading.
Grimes currently resides in Corona, California
Corona, California
Corona is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 152,374, up from 124,966 at the 2000 census...
and continues to write poetry and books for children and young adults. She is on the board of directors for the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance
National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance
National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance is an American non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of literacy, literature, and libraries for young people...
. Her work has earned her honors and recognition from a number of prestigious organizations.
Her novel Bronx Masquerade was named the Coretta Scott King Award book in 2002. The Coretta Scott King Award
Coretta Scott King Award
The Coretta Scott King Award is an annual award presented by the Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, part of the American Library Association...
is "given to African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
s and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
s for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions."
Published works
- From a Child's Heart (1993), illustrated by Brenda Joysmith
- Meet Danitra Brown (1994), illustrated by Floyd Cooper (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book)
- Portrait of Mary (1994)
- Come Sunday (1996), illustrated by Michael Bryant
- Wild, Wild Hair (1997), illustrated by George Cephas Ford
- Jazmin's Swetty Pits (1998) (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book)
- A Dime a Dozen (1998), illustrated by Angelo
- My Man Blue (1999), illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue (Marion Vannett Ridgway Award)
- Hopscotch Love (1999), illustrated by Melodye Benson Rosales
- At Break of Day (1999), illustrated by Paul Morin
- Aneesa Lee and the Weaver's Gift (2000), illustrated by Ashley BryanAshley BryanAshley F. Bryan is an American author and illustrator noted for his children's books. His subjects most often are from the African-American experience.-Childhood:...
- Shoe Magic (2001), illustrated by Terry Widener
- A Pocketful of Poems (2001), illustrated by Javaka Steptoe
- Stepping Out with Grandma Mac (2002), illustrated by Angelo
- C is for City (2002), illustrated by Pat Cummings
- When Daddy Prays (2002), illustrated by Tim Ladwig
- Bronx Masquerade (2002), (Coretta Scott King Author Award) (Best Children's Book of 2002, Association of Theological Booksellers)
- Talkin' About Bessie (2002), illustrated by E.B. LewisE. B. Lewis (illustrator)E. B. Lewis is an illustrator, whose watercolors have included such works as Little Cliff and the Porch People. Lewis has been a resident of Folsom, New Jersey....
(Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, Author Honor Book) - Tai Chi Morning (2004), illustrated by Ed YoungEd YoungEd Young may refer to:* Ed Young , Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator* Homer Edwin Young, known as Ed Young, pastor of Second Baptist Church , a megachurch...
- A Day with Daddy (2004), illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
- What is Goodbye? (2004), illustrated by Raul Colón (ALA Notable Book)
- It's Raining Laughter, photographs by Myles C. Pinkney
- At Jerusalem's Gate, illustrated by David Frampton
- Danitra Brown, Class Clown (2005), illustrated by E.B. LewisE. B. Lewis (illustrator)E. B. Lewis is an illustrator, whose watercolors have included such works as Little Cliff and the Porch People. Lewis has been a resident of Folsom, New Jersey....
- Dark Sons (2005), (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book)
- Thanks a Million (2006), illustrated by Cozbi A. Carrera
- Welcome, Precious (2006), illustrated by Bryan CollierBryan CollierBryan Collier, award-winning author and illustrator, has illustrated numerous children's books, including Rosa by Nikki Giovanni which was awarded a Coretta Scott King Award and a Caldecott Honor. He also won a Coretta Scott King Award for Uptown, his first attempt at both writing and...
- The Road to Paris (2007), (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book)
- When Gorilla Goes Walking (2007), illustrate by Shane Evans
- Oh, Brother! (2007), illustrated by Mike Benny
- Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope (2008), illustrated by Bryan CollierBryan CollierBryan Collier, award-winning author and illustrator, has illustrated numerous children's books, including Rosa by Nikki Giovanni which was awarded a Coretta Scott King Award and a Caldecott Honor. He also won a Coretta Scott King Award for Uptown, his first attempt at both writing and...
(NY Times Bestseller) - Out of the Dark: Nikki Grimes, Author at Work (2009)
- Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel (2009), illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
- Rich: a Dyamonde Daniel Book (2009), illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
- Voices of Christmas (2009), illustrated by Eric Velasquez
- A Girl Named Mister (2010)
- Almost Zero: a Dyamonde Daniel Book (2010), illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
- Planet Middle School (2011)
Awards and honors
- 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children
- 2003 Coretta Scott King Author Award
- 2011 Horace Mann Upstanders Award for Almost Zero: a Dyamonde Daniel Book
External links
- Nikki Grimes' Home Page
- Children's Literature Network biography and complete book list
- HarperCollins
- Scholastic.com
- Simon & Schuster
- Zondervan
- 2009 National Book Festival webcast
- National Children's Book & Literary Alliance Board of Directors