Nikki Grimes

Nikki Grimes (born October 20, 1950, in Harlem, New York) is an American author and poet known for more than 100 books for children and young adults, many written in verse. A New York Times–bestselling writer, she has received major honors including the Children’s Literature Legacy Award, the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and the Coretta Scott King Author Award. Grimes earned a BA from Rutgers University, where she studied English and African languages, and her work often reflects her Harlem upbringing and experiences in the foster care system.

Grimes is the author of the Coretta Scott King Award–winning novel Bronx Masquerade and the verse novel Words with Wings, which has been recognized as an NCTE Notable Book. Her broader body of work includes titles such as Garvey’s Choice, Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope, and her memoir in verse Ordinary Hazards, a Printz Honor and Sibert Honor book.