Read "Historically Speaking," in which Nikki shares more about her life, information that will help with school projects.

Read Nikki's comments about "An Author's Life." Click here.

		Right-click on the photo above and select "Save as" to download a 72-dpi photo for web use, 24 kb
		Right-click here and select "Save target as" to download 300 dpi, 1.5 in. x 2.25 in., CMYK, 241 kb
		Right-click here and select "Save target as" to download 300 dpi, 1.5 in. x 2.25 in., grayscale, 122 kb

Biography (you may use this for reprinting in conference programs)

New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes is the recipient of the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children.Her distinguished works include ALA Notable book What is Goodbye?, Coretta Scott King Award winner Bronx Masquerade, the novels Jazmin's Notebook, Dark Sons,and The Road to Paris (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books).Creator of the popular Meet Danitra Brown, Ms. Grimes lives in Corona, California.

Biography (a longer biography for research purposes)

Nikki Grimes does not consider herself a bona fide storyteller, but, as she told an audience at the Library of Congress, she is happy to own the title Poet. Born and raised in New York City, Nikki began composing verse at the age of six and has been writing ever since.

A New York Times bestselling author and a prolific artist, she has written many award-winning books for children and young adults. Her works include the novels Bronx Masquerade (Dial), winner of the 2003 Coretta Scott King Author Award, and Jazmin's Notebook (Dial), a Coretta Scott King honor book and Bank Street College Book of the Year; the popular poetry collections Danitra Brown,Class Clown, Danitra Brown Leaves Town (HarperCollins) and Meet Danitra Brown (Lothrop), an ALA Notable and Coretta Scott King honor book, Hopscotch Love (Lothrop); Under the Christmas Tree (Harper); What is Goodbye? (Hyperion); Talkin' About Bessie, the 2003 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner and Author Award honor book, and Horn Book Fanfare book (Orchard); Aneesa Lee & the Weaver's Gift, an American Bookseller Pick of the List (Lothrop); From a Child's Heart (Just Us Books); A Dime A Dozen, My Man Blue (Dial); Come Sunday (Eerdman's), an ALA Notable book; At Break of Day and When Daddy Prays (Eerdman's). Other works include Stepping Out with Grandma Mac, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, and Shoe Magic (Orchard), A Pocketful of Poems (Clarion), Wild, Wild Hair (Scholastic), Portrait of Mary (Harcourt Brace), a work of adult fiction, and Malcolm X: a Force for Change (Fawcett), a YA biography which was an NAACP Image Award finalist for 1993.

In addition to her work for children, Ms. Grimes has written articles for such magazines as Essence, Today's Christian Woman, Book Links, and Image, Journal of Arts & Religion.

An accomplished and widely anthologized poet of both children's and adult verse, Grimes has conducted poetry readings and lectures at international schools in Russia, China, Sweden and Tanzania, while short-term mission projects have taken her to such trouble spots as Haiti.

During the 1970s, Nikki coproduced and hosted The Kid's Show on WBAI FM in New York. Later, during a six-year stint in Sweden, she hosted their radio program for immigrants, Grunslöst, and another for Swedish Educational Radio.

In 2005, Ms.Grimes was awarded the Golden Dolphin Award by the Southern California Children's Book Association, recognizing her body of work.

Performing Artist / Fiber Artist / Jeweler / Jane-of-all-Trades

Crossing borders artistically as well as geographically, Nikki once sang on the stage of the Stockholm Philharmonic in Sweden (where magazines refer to her as a singer who also writes!), sang and danced her way down the east coast of China, and has published and exhibited her photography both here and abroad. In recent years, she's extended herself into the world of fiber art, beaded jewelry, complex sculptural peyote beading, and handmade cards, created from recycled materials.

Based in SouthernCalifornia, her wearable-art jewelry has shown up on the necks, wrists, and earlobes of customers as far away as Utah, Iowa, Chicago, Illinois, Washington, D.C., and New YorkCity. At one time, her work was frequently featured in fine art fairs and bookstores. However, the author has little time to pursue her interest in visual and textile art these days. The work she produces now is strictly for friends, family, and the sheer joy of creating art.

Click here to take a look at more of Nikki's artwork.

Ms.Grimes lives in Corona, California.