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A Walk in the Woods

“Confused and distraught after the death of his father, a boy opens an envelope he left behind and is surprised to find a map of the woods beyond their house, with one spot marked in bright red. But why? The woods had been something they shared together, why would his father want him to go alone?

Slowly, his mind settles as he sets off through the spaces he once explored with his dad, passing familiar beech and black oak trees, flitting Carolina wrens, and a garter snake they named Sal. When he reaches the spot marked on the map, he finds pages upon pages of drawings of woodland creatures, made by his father when he was his age. What he sees shows him a side of his dad he never knew, and something even deeper for them to share together. His dad knew what he really needed was a walk in the woods.” — publisher […]

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Garvey’s Choice: The Graphic Novel

“In this adaptation of Grimes’s novel in verse, Garvey’s father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading—anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey discovers his voice—and himself. He also finds a way to finally reach his distant father—by speaking the language of music.”– publisher […]

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Off to See the Sea

“From the celebrated team of Nikki Grimes and Elizabeth Zunon comes a child’s imagination-fueled adventure out at sea—or maybe it’s just the bathtub!

Night has fallen and Mom and Dad need to get their little one in the tub. To make it more fun, Mom brings a magical adventure out at sea to life, where the faucet is a waterfall, a rubber ducky is a sea creature, and the splashing water is a raging sea! In their ocean journey, Mom and Dad manage to get their little one clean just in time to dock for bedtime.” — publisher […]

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Bedtime for Sweet Creatures

“4 Starred Reviews! Nikki Grimes, Coretta Scott King Award winning author, and illustrator Elizabeth Zunon’s latest children’s masterpiece creates an imagination-fueled journey to bedtime.

It’s bedtime, but Mommy’s little boy is not sleepy.

He growls like a bear, he questions like an owl, he tosses his mane like a lion. He hunts for water like a sly wolf, and hides like a snake.

Mommy needs to wrangle her sweet creature in bed so that the whole family can sleep.” — publisher […]

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Kamala Harris

“Discover the incredible story of a young daughter of immigrants who would grow up to be the first woman, first Black person, and first South Asian American ever elected Vice President of the United States in this moving picture book biography of Kamala Harris.

When Kamala Harris was young, she often accompanied her parents to civil rights marches—so many, in fact, that when her mother asked a frustrated Kamala what she wanted, the young girl responded with: “Freedom!”

As Kamala grew from a small girl in Oakland to a senator running for president, it was this long-fostered belief in freedom and justice for all people that shaped her into the inspiring figure she is today. From fighting for the use of a soccer field in middle school to fighting for the people of her home state in Congress, Senator Harris used her voice to speak up for what she believed in and for those who were otherwise unheard. And now this dedication has led her all the way to being elected Vice President of the United States.

Told in Nikki Grimes’s stunning verse and featuring gorgeous illustrations by Laura Freeman, this picture book biography brings to life a story that shows all young people that the American dream can belong to all of us if we fight for one another.” — publisher […]

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Southwest Sunrise

“From acclaimed creators Nikki Grimes and Wendell Minor comes a stunning picture book about the beauty of the natural world.
When Jayden and his parents move from New York to New Mexico, he is devastated to leave the city behind. Where are the skyscrapers, the fire escapes, and the traffic? Instead, Jayden finds an endless sky, a bird’s song, and a rainbow of flowers. As he learns to appreciate the natural beauty around him, he finds a new place to call home.
Children’s Literature Legacy Award-winner Nikki Grimes and acclaimed illustrator Wendell Minor draw readers into the natural world with this lyrical story of finding beauty wherever you are.” — publisher […]

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A pocketful of poems

Tiana has a pocketful of words: green words like spring, night words like moon, and words with wings, like angel. Each word is the inspiration for a pair of poems—one, lyrical free verse and the other, haiku. The paired poems reflect Tiana’s lively spirit and urban outlook and are showcased in Javaka Steptoe’s inventive collages, which include a wide range of materials, from faucet handles to pumpkin seeds to a hand-sculpted, gilded alphabet. A fusion of two remarkable creative talents, A Pocketful of Poems is an engaging portrait of a down-to-earth girl who has a way with words, as well as a tantalizing introduction to poetry. Author’s note on haiku.–publisher […]

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Chasing freedom

In this imaginative biographical story, Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony sit down over a cup of tea in 1904 to reminisce about their struggles and triumphs in the service of freedom and women’s rights. […]

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Poems in the attic

A young girl learns much about her mother as she reads a collection of poems written before she was born that capture her mother’s memories of living around the world and growing up as a child of an Air Force serviceperson. Includes author’s note, list of Air Force bases, and explanation of the free verse and tanka poetry forms used […]

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Barack Obama

When David asks his mother about the man on television, she tells him the story of Barack Obama, discussing his childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia, his parents’ divorce, and his desire to help others. […]

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