Nikki Grimes Books In Order

Minnie ‘n Me Books In Order

  1. My Favorite Book (1990)
  2. Minnie’s New Friend (1992)

Winnie the Pooh Helping Hand Books In Order

  1. Oh, Bother! Someone’s Baby-sitting! (1991)
  2. Oh, Bother! Someone’s Fighting! (1991)

Dyamonde Daniel Books In Order

  1. Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel (2009)
  2. Rich (2009)
  3. Almost Zero (2010)
  4. Halfway to Perfect (2012)

Novels

  1. Growin’ (1977)
  2. Jazmin’s Notebook (1998)
  3. Stepping Out With Grandma Mac (2001)
  4. Bronx Masquerade (2001)
  5. Dark Sons (2005)
  6. The Road to Paris (2006)
  7. A Girl Named Mister (2010)
  8. Planet Middle School (2011)

Omnibus

  1. Dark Sons / A Girl Named Mister (2017)

Collections

  1. Between the Lines (2018)

Picture Books

  1. Something On My Mind (1978)
  2. When Daddy Prays (1980)
  3. Meet Danitra Brown (1984)
  4. Disney’s Mickey Mouse in Sky Island (1990)
  5. Disney’s Mickey Mouse in the Viking’s Eye (1990)
  6. Disney’s the Little Mermaid (1992)
  7. Walt Disney’s Cinderella (1993)
  8. From a Child’s Heart (1993)
  9. C Is for City (1995)
  10. Wild, Wild Hair (1997)
  11. Baby’s Bedtime (1997)
  12. My Man Blue (1999)
  13. Aneesa Lee and the Weaver’s Gift (1999)
  14. At Break of Day (1999)
  15. Danitra Brown Leaves Town (2002)
  16. Under the Christmas Tree (2002)
  17. A Day With Daddy (2004)
  18. Just For You! A Day With Daddy (2004)
  19. Danitra Brown, Class Clown (2005)
  20. When Gorilla Goes Walking (2007)
  21. Oh, Brother! (2007)
  22. Chasing Freedom (2015)
  23. The Watcher (2017)
  24. Bedtime for Sweet Creatures (2020)
  25. Southwest Sunrise (2020)
  26. Off to See the Sea (2021)
  27. Playtime for Restless Rascals (2022)

Non fiction

  1. Malcolm X (1992)
  2. Portrait of Mary (1994)
  3. Talkin’ ’bout Bess (1998)
  4. Tai Chi Morning (2004)
  5. Barack Obama (2008)
  6. Out of the Dark (2009)
  7. Words with Wings (2013)
  8. Ordinary Hazards (2019)

Minnie ‘n Me Book Covers

Winnie the Pooh Helping Hand Book Covers

Dyamonde Daniel Book Covers

Novels Book Covers

Omnibus Book Covers

Collections Book Covers

Picture Books Book Covers

Non fiction Book Covers

Nikki Grimes Books Overview

Oh, Bother! Someone’s Baby-sitting!

This picture book adventure is one of the titles in an appealing Pooh series that addresses and resolves simple childhood problems. In this story Roo insists he is too old for a baby sitter. When poor Roo gets himself into trouble and baby sitter Tigger comes to his rescue, Roo is glad that big helpful Tigger is nearby!

Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel

Dyamonde Daniel may be new in town, but that doesn’t stop her from making a place for herself in a jiffy. With her can do attitude and awesome brain power she takes the whole neighborhood by storm. The only thing puzzling her is the other new kid in her class. He’s awfully grouchy but Dyamonde’s determined to get to the bottom of his frowning attitude and make a friend. Readers will fall in love with Dyamonde Daniel, the spirited star of a new series by Nikki Grimes. With her upbeat, take charge attitude, Dyamonde is a character to cheer for and the fun, accessible storytelling will hook kids from the first page.

Rich

Dyamonde Daniel is excited about the local library’s poetry contest, and so is her friend Free. The prize is one hundred dollars just think what they could buy with that much money! But when they find out that Damaris, one of their classmates, has been living in a homeless shelter, their ideas about what it means to be rich or poor start to change. And when they get to know Damaris, they realize the one who could use the prize money the most also happens to be the best poet in class. In this fantastic follow up to Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel, Nikki Grimes tackles big issues like homelessness in a sensitive, kid friendly way. Dymonde’s can do attitude and lively spirit will endear her to readers.

Almost Zero

Dyamonde really wants red high-top sneakers. Too bad they’re so expensive! A classmate tells her it’s her mom’s job to give her what she needs, but when Dyamonde tries that argument, her mom teaches her a lesson by literally only giving her what she needs. Now Dyamonde is down to Almost Zero outfits! But then she finds out one of her friends has it much worse, and she’s determined to do what she can to help.

Coretta Scott King Award winner Nikki Grimes’ third book starring the unstoppable Dyamonde Daniel will delight fans and new readers alike, with energetic storytelling, relatable situations and Dyamonde’s spitfire personality.

Growin’

When an accident kills her father, Pump wants to run and hide, because thinking about it hurts too much. Moving to a new neighborhood hurts, too and since she can’t confide in her mother, Pump has to rely on herself. When the class bully picks a fight with her, she’s ready but she’s not ready for what happens next. Jim Jim turns out to be a one of a kind friend!

Jazmin’s Notebook

Her name is Jazmin, and like the music of her name, her life throbs and swings a few flat notes to be sure, but also bursting with rich passages that rise and soar. Sitting on her stoop she fills her notebook with laughs, anger, and hope. There’s the risky lure of luscious looking men and the consequences of free haircuts. This is a fourteen year old so real girl living in Harlem in the 1960’s, born with clenched fists and big dreams, and strengthened by the love of a steadfast sister. Captured within pages of her tough, exuberant life are all the beauty, chaos, confusion, and clarity that accompany the excitement of exploring life’s possibilities and discovering they are endless.

Bronx Masquerade

When Wesley Boone writes a poem for his high school English class, some of his classmates clamor to read their poems aloud too. Soon they’re having weekly poetry sessions and, one by one, the eighteen students are opening up and taking on the risky challenge of self revelation. There’s Lupe Alvarin, desperate to have a baby so she will feel loved. Raynard Patterson, hiding a secret behind his silence. Porscha Johnson, needing an outlet for her anger after her mother OD’s. Through the poetry they share and narratives in which they reveal their most intimate thoughts about themselves and one another, their words and lives show what lies beneath the skin, behind the eyes, beyond the masquerade.

Dark Sons

Sam can’t believe it when his father leaves the family to marry another woman and a white woman, at that. The betrayal cuts deep Sam had been so close to his dad, he idolized him. Now who can he turn to, who can he trust? Even God seems to have ditched him. Ishmael is his father’s first son, the heir, his favorite. But when his father is visited by mysterious strangers who claim that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, will finally give birth to a legitimate son, Ishmael is worried. And when baby Isaac arrives, Ishmael becomes more isolated from his father. Could Abraham’s God, who had spoken to Ishmael’s mother, to whom he has made countless sacrifices, now betray him in favor of this new son?

The Road to Paris

Paris has just moved in with the Lincoln family, and isn t thrilled to be in yet another foster home. She has a tough time trusting people, and she misses her brother, who’s been sent to a boys home. Over time, the Lincolns grow on Paris. But no matter how hard she tries to fit in, she can t ignore the feeling that she never will, especially in a town that s mostly white while she is half black. It isn t long before Paris has a big decision to make about where she truly belongs.

Nikki Grimes has created a portrait of a young girl who, in the midst of being shuffled back and forth between homes and realizing things about other people and the world around her, gradually embarks on the road to discovering herself.

A Girl Named Mister

My boyfriend used to think it was cute, A Girl Named Mister. Used to think I was cute. Used to be my boyfriend what feels like a million years ago. Then again, I used to be a good Christian girl, the kind who would never, well…
Just goes to show how little people know. Even I was surprised by me. Now, I close my eyes hoping to see exactly where I went wrong. Mary Rudine, called Mister by almost everyone, has attended church and sung in the choir for as long as she can remember. But then she meets Trey. His long lashes and smooth words make her question what she knows is right, and one mistake leaves her hiding a growing secret. Another Mary is preparing for her upcoming wedding and has done everything according to Jewish law. So when an angel appears one night and tells her that she a virgin will give birth, Mary can’t help but feel confused, and soon finds herself struggling with the greatest blessing the world will ever know. Feeling abandoned, Mister is drawn to Mary’s story, and together both young women discover the depth of God’s love and the mysteries of his divine plan.

Planet Middle School

For twelve years, Joylin Johnson’s life has been just fine, thank you very much. A game of basketball with the boys especially her friend Jake was all it took to put a smile on her face. Baggy jeans, T shirt, and hair in a ponytail were easy choices. Then suddenly the world seemed to turn upside down, and everything changed at once. Her best girl friend is now flirting with her best guy friend. Her clothes seem all wrong. Jake is acting weird, and basketball isn’t the same. And worst of all, there is this guy, Santiago, who appears from…
where? What lengths will Joy go to and whom will she become to attract his attention? In short poems that perfectly capture the crazy feelings of adolescence and first crushes, award winning author Nikki Grimes has crafted a delightful, often hilarious, hearttugging story.

Something On My Mind

When the thing from outer space visits earth, it is taken first for a trick or treater and then for a robot.

When Daddy Prays

When Daddy Prays

my fear of darkness disappears

and angels tiptoe down the hall.

I hear them through the door and wall…
When Daddy Prays. In this collection of new poems by Nikki Grimes, a child learns about prayer from his father, whose prayers carry the family through each day no matter what the circumstances. Nikki Grimes believes that spirituality and prayer are signs of true strength and power. When Daddy Prays celebrates fathers who help their children see this. Nikki writes, ‘In my view there is no more powerful image than that of a strong man bowing before God.’ And illustrator Tim Ladwig has created remarkable images, rich with tenderness and touches of affectionate humor, to enhance and complete this exceptional book.

Meet Danitra Brown

Zuri Jackson’s best friend, Danitra Brown, wears only purple because she might be a princess, faces down bullies, rides her bike as if it had wings, and is definitely going to win the Nobel prize one day. In this spirited collection of poems, Grimes and Cooper have created two unforgettable little girls and a warm portrait of true friendship. Full color.

Walt Disney’s Cinderella

Disney’s Cinderella is the classic story of a beautiful girl, her evil stepmother and stepsisters, and the fairy godmother who helps her meet the prince of her dreams.

From a Child’s Heart

Nikki Grimes’ masterful collection of poems, accented by Brenda Joysmith’s expressive pastel drawings, is sure to be enjoyed by everyone from the very young to the very old.

C Is for City

See, hear, smell, and taste the many delights of a big city. Nikki Grimes and Pat Cummings are your guides to an alphabet adventure that takes readers and visitors from an art show to the zoo on one whirlwind tour. Full color.

Wild, Wild Hair

Hating having to get her wild hair painfully combed and braided every Monday, Tisa decides to hide, but once her hair is done, she loves it so much that her mother cannot tear her away from the mirror.

My Man Blue

These are just some of the great reviews and awards that greeted the publication of My Man Blue in May 1999. Nikki Grimes’s poetically realistic tale and Jerome Lagarrigue’s powerful and sensitive paintings highlight two everyday heroes who discover what it means to be a true friend. Blue, who lost one boy to the streets, is determined that this time will be different. Now Damon has Blue to shoot hoops with, bounce thoughts off of, to share a laugh and a hot dog with all the works. Someone standing steadfast in Damon’s corner. Someone true like Blue.

Aneesa Lee and the Weaver’s Gift

Thirteen interrelated poems and as many radiant illustrations create not only a celebration of the ancient art of weaving but a joyful exploration of how love and hard work can mesh separate threads or separate people into a harmonious whole.

At Break of Day

In At Break of Day, God the Father and God the Son are artists who delight in their creation. Nikki Grimess poetic text celebrates the wonders of the universe and its creatures and the loving collaborative effort that brings it into existence. Paul Morin

Danitra Brown Leaves Town

It’s summer vacation, but Zuri Jackson isn’t happy. What will she do all summer long in the city when her best friend, Danitra. Brown, the most splendiferous girl in town, is off to visit her family in the country? Write, of course!Through a series of letters, these two friends share with readers what childhood summers are made of. fireflies, Fourth of July, skies like a thick overcoat buttoned up with stars, family reunions, block parties, handball games…
and coming back home, where true friendship always remains. We met these two unforgettable best friends in the Coretta Scott King Honor Book Meet Danitra Brown. Now Nikki Grimes brings Danitra and Zuri back, in thirteen more spirited poems matched with Floyd Cooper’s exuberant paintings.

Under the Christmas Tree

The angel smiles Atop the tree And proves me right. She’s happiest there Poised for flight, Halo kissing the ceiling Feeling closer to home. Twenty three holiday offerings from Coretta Scott King Award winning poet Nikki Grimes showcase many facets of Christmastime. From neighborhood kids who only need an icy patch and trash can lid to have fun, to a family grate fully sitting down to holiday dinner with all the trim*mings, to Rhythm Brown the blind sax man who plays ‘Silent Night’ as if he witnessed the first Christmas in Bethlehem Nikki Grimes revels in the sights, sounds, and feelings that make the season so special. Kadir Nelson provides the perfect counterpoint to each poem with a radiant, revealing painting. Under the Christmas Tree is a gift to be treasured and shared. Open it now and enjoy!

A Day With Daddy

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. A boy enjoys every moment of a special day with his father, as they play in the park, share french fries, and see a movie together. Includes activity ideas for parents and children.

Just For You! A Day With Daddy

Sharing a game of basketball…
a movie about ninjas…
How would you spend a day with Daddy?

Danitra Brown, Class Clown

They may be best friends, but Zuri Jackson and Danitra Brown respond very differently to the start of school. For Zuri, there are so many things to ponder a new teacher who replaced the old one she liked so much, passing math, and worrying about her mother’s health. But for Danitra, the only real deal is being true to herself, having fun, and supporting Zuri in any way she can.

Multiple Coretta Scott King award winners Nikki Grimes and E. B. Lewis have poured their best into Danitra Brown, Class Clown. This third book starring Zuri and Danitra speaks to everyone who has faced the trials of a new school year.

When Gorilla Goes Walking

When Gorilla Goes Walking, the neighbors laugh and stare at her tailless rump and her very proud air.’ Gorilla is an affectionate, jealous, lovable cat who constantly wants to play with Cecilia. Experience their unique relationship through Nikki Grimes’s lyrical poetry and Shane Evans’s vibrant art work. Readers will fall in love with Gorilla and wish they could bring her home with them!

Oh, Brother!

It’s bad enough that Xavier’s new stepbrother, Chris, has moved into Xavier’s room, but now it looks like he’s also trying to steal Mami by being the perfect kid.

Chris’s ‘Mr. Perfect’ act may fool grown-ups, but Xavier can see straight through it.

He promises himself that he’ll never become real brothers with such a fake.

No brothers allowed!

Ever!


right?

In twenty powerful poems, two strangers learn to become brothers. Nikki Grimes captures the struggles-and eventual sweetness-of bringing together a family.

Portrait of Mary

The award winning author of From a Child’s Heart retells the story of Mary, using everyday, down to earth language based on the Scriptural events. Through Nikki Grimes’s vibrant narrative presented in a stunning, two color format Mary’s life is made startlingly fresh, deeply human, and inspiring.

Talkin’ ’bout Bess

Soar along with Bessie Coleman in this inspirational tale of a woman whose determination reached new heights. Elizabeth ‘Bessie’ Coleman was always being told what she could & couldn’t do. In an era when Jim Crow laws and segregation were a way of life, it was not easy to survive. Bessie didn’t let that stop her. Although she was only 11 when the Wright brothers took their historic flight, she vowed to become the first African American female pilot. Her sturdy faith and determination helped her overcome obstacles of poverty, racism, and gender discrimination. Innovatively told through a series of monologues.

Barack Obama

Ever since Barack Obama was young, Hope has lived inside him. From the beaches of Hawaii to the streets of Chicago, from the jungles of Indonesia to the plains of Kenya, he has held on to Hope. Even as a boy, Barack knew he wasn’t quite like anybody else, but through his journeys he found the ability to listen to Hope and become what he was meant to be: a bridge to bring people together. This is the moving story of an exceptional man, as told by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Bryan Collier, both winners of the Coretta Scott King Award. Barack Obama has motivated Americans to believe with him, to believe that every one of us has the power to change ourselves and change our world.

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