Nikki Grimes

BIO

NIKKI GRIMES is a New York Times bestselling author, Black Authors Hall of Fame Inductee, and recipient of the CSK Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, ALAN Award for adolescent literature, Children’s Literature Legacy Medal, NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, Coretta Scott King Award for Bronx Masquerade , and Printz Honor and Sibert Honor for Ordinary Hazards . Her recent titles include Garvey’s Choice:The Graphic Novel , a School Library Journal Best Book; Lullaby for the King, one of Book Riot’s 25 Best Christmas Books of All Time; and A Walk in the Woods , with 11 Best Book listings including the New York Times , NPR and Smithsonian Magazine . Ms. Grimes lives in Corona, California.

STRONGER THAN

Dante Dawes was eight years, one month,

three weeks, two days old

and not afraid of much…

Not anything at all—except bad dreams.

This story, co-authored by Stacy Wells and illustrated by EB Lewis, follows a Black Choctaw boy who struggles with nightmares. He finds strength to overcome his fears through the example and history of his Native and Black ancestors, survivors of the Trail of Tears and the Tulsa Race Massacre, respectively. As he embraces their stories, he feels the powerful hold of his bad dreams slip away, forever.

We come from people stronger than fear,

stronger than nightmares…

A CUP OF QUIET

Grandmother and granddaughter play make-believe during summer visits, but not with the sound of grandpa’s hammerindoors! A search for quiet leads to the garden. This intergenerational story, illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson, celebrates both the calming quiet of nature, and the loving bonds of family.

“Here,” says grandma handing me an invisible cup.

“Walk around the garden

and fill this up

with any sounds you hear.”

I smile. No one but Grandma

loves make-believe

as much as me.