With her usual positive and hopeful storytelling, Nikki Grimes reminds us that lives changed during the Covid pandemic, affecting many people in many different ways. Garvey's story will resonate deeply with readers of all ages.
Such a charmÂing book! From NikÂki Grimes, we hear the stoÂry of a young boy stalling his bedÂtime, all the while colÂlectÂing a menagerie of imagÂiÂnary creaÂtures. This is a child who has well-pracÂticed ploys for avoidÂing bedÂtime. His parÂents respond with playÂfulÂness and good humor. Mom and dad are patient but, finalÂly, the child is too sleepy to stay awake.… more
PoetÂry and the spoÂken word have promiÂnent places in African AmerÂiÂcan culÂture, due at least in part to a strong oral traÂdiÂtion that has been passed down through genÂerÂaÂtions. ConÂsidÂer includÂing poems from the books below in your read-alouds this month, and the year ahead, as a way to highÂlight the conÂtriÂbuÂtions of African AmerÂiÂcans to our nation’s hisÂtoÂry and culÂture.
At BookolÂoÂgy, we believe the adage about “the right book for the right readÂer.” Those are not necÂesÂsarÂiÂly the books that we see in adverÂtiseÂments, in the blogÂgers’ buzz, or on award lists. Only by lisÂtenÂing to each othÂer, and espeÂcialÂly to kids, talk about books do we find those gems our hearts were lookÂing for but didn’t know existed.… more
InterÂview by VicÂki PalmquistChasÂing FreeÂdom writÂten by NikÂki Grimes illusÂtratÂed by Michelle Wood Orchard Books, 2014
Did you know more about one of your two characters when you conceived of the book?
Yes. I knew a fair amount about Harriet Tubman. Hers was one of the few stories about African Americans brought out every year during what, in my youth, was called Negro History Month.… more
In this Bookstorm™:
Chasing Freedom The Life JourÂneys of HarÂriÂet TubÂman and Susan B. AnthoÂny, Inspired by HisÂtorÂiÂcal Facts writÂten by NikÂki Grimes illusÂtratÂed by Michele Wood Orchard Books, 2015
As NikÂki Grimes writes in her author’s note for this book, “HisÂtoÂry is often taught in bits and pieces, and stuÂdents rarely get the notion that these bits and pieces are conÂnectÂed.”… more
What keeps you up at night?
My brain! I can't shut it off. I'm constantly bombarded with thoughts about what's on my to-do list (I live or die by the list), what arrangements I need to make for the next conference, book festival, or school visit; what work I need to do to elevate the relationships of my characters or ways to make them more authentic; what manuscript I need to concentrate on next (I'm always juggling three or four at one time).… more