Nikki Grimes
@poetnikki.bsky.social
Poet, novelist, general word-nerd, gardener, photographer, foodie, film lover. My favorite people on the planet are children, which is why I write for them. Oh! And I'm a freak for roses, watercolor, and collage. Author of Ordinary Hazards, a memoir.
Just jetted cross country round-trip. Flew to Charlotte to change planes on my way to the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival. After landing, got a text: The festival was cancelled! Returned home & arrived safely (thank you Jesus!) after 20 hours of travel. Feel badly for the festival planners. Sigh.
A gift of beautiful blooms! Now the YPPL appointment celebrations can begin!
I don't want to be rich, I just want someone to clean my house, wash my car, do my hair, handle the laundry, pick up my mail, prepare my meals, keep my garden weeded, do my filing, and a few other small tasks. That way, I can have more time to WRITE. I don't think that's asking too much, is it?
Not a bad day. The announcement went out this afternoon: The Poetry Foundation chose moi as the next Young People's Poet Laureate! That's reason enough to smile, don't you think?
In Ghana, some artists are commissioned to design and create unusual coffins for individuals who wish to be buried in coffins that speak to who they were/what they loved to do in life. Santa Fe's Museum Hill has an exhibition of such coffins. Would you order such a thing? What do you think?
March 2nd. That's how long I've been sitting on something. Doing the final countdown. It's less than two weeks away. Can hardly contain myself! It's good, ya'll.
Philly. There's so much about this city that I like, especially the public art. Philly truly has its own vibe.
There are lots of reasons to go to Philly. This is my latest.
106 degrees. At this point, does it really matter that it's dry heat???
So many connections for me here. Coretta Scott King Awards 2006: Jaime Adoff, son of my friend Virginia Hamilton; Julius Lester, who encouraged a wet-nosed poet of 17 years old, with dreams of becoming an author. Grateful to share the stage with, and have a chance to publicly thank him. A good day.
My car is in shock. I cleaned it! Ah, the power of shame! Happy Saturday, folks!
California Morning. Went for an early walk. Sometimes it's easy to follow the doctor's orders!
Been gone awhile. Have made good use of the time, though. Most recently at a necessary Boyds Mills Black Women Writers retreat. A time to connect, be ourselves, let our guards down, and talk as much or as little shop as we chose. Ahhh! Refreshing.
My Monday Meditation. Making art is one of my favorite ways to self-soothe. Yours?
Partial shoe print. Who’s Been walking across the sky This morning? And why? — proof that I’ve been binge-watching too many episodes of “Castle!”
Despite every challenge intent on bringing you down, you've made it to the end of one more week. Now, breathe! Revel in whatever moments of beauty & joy gave you the fuel you needed to make it this far. God has not brought you this far to leave you. This, alone, is reason to be grateful. Breathe.
It never hurts to have a friend like Stacy Wells who shares your book, A Cup of Quiet, with young readers at the Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve in Southlake, Texas, then takes them on a hike for an exercise in listening for the quiet sounds of nature. I mean! Come on! How cool is that?
This time, it's That Librarian Amanda Jones sending a pic from the Obama Presidential Center Library of something significant to me. I could get used to this!
SLJ Star!!! ⭐️⭐️ "Renowned author Nikki Grimes and debut picture book writer Stacy Wells (Choctaw) lend their resonant voices to award-winning artist E. B. Lewis’s (Lenni Lenape) rich watercolors in this story of a Black Choctaw boy who finds strength in the example and history of his ancestors..."
Yes, it's me X three! I'm being my usual overachieving self, appearing on three panels. It's my first time at the Columbus Book Festival, so I wanted to make the most of it! Hope to see you there. (You've got three chances to say yes!)
I've got banned books, health issues, an old house that keeps its hands in my pocket, & am still reeling from the loss of a friend. But I'm giddy! 7 of my books (these four included) are in the Obama Presidential Center Library!Thanks Edith Campbell for giving me the heads up. Grinning like crazy!
I haven't made my way there yet, but one of my books certainly has! Guess what gift shop this is in, on full display, no less?
It's hard trying to teach something I basically breathe. Spent hours writing prompts re: imagery, and it hurt my brain. Mentor texts? Easy. Devising steps to create something similar? The effort kicked my butt! Teaching is its own gift, my friends. I have so much respect for those who do it well.
Signing a new book contract always causes my heart to go pitter patter, especially when it took so long to get here. So, Yay! This even somewhat diminishes the FOMO I’ve been feeling about missing out on ALA this year– if only a little. So, I’ll take it! Have a great day because I certainly am.
It's been awhile. Time to visit another presidential museum. Hmm. Which one might that be?
I woke to some lovely news today: Twice Blessed was nomnationed for the L.A. Times Book Prize! The finalists will be announced in February, and the winners in each category will be revealed at the next L.A. Times Book Festival in April! It's a long time to be in suspense, but I'll manage it.
Great thing about deep dives into your area of expertise is discovering what's left to learn! A current project is having that result, & it's exhilarating.The more you know, the more you realize how little you know, which keeps you going, growing, and humble. That, my friends, is a very good thing.
