Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance -- Nikki Grimes, Paperback

A Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year A Book Page Best Book of the Year, Middle Grade An NCTE Best Poetry Book of the Year A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Poetry A Kirkus Prize Finalist, Young Readers' Literature

At a time of rapid change in the early 20th century, women writers carved out their space as artists and intellectuals. During the Harlem Renaissance, African-American writers made some of the most lasting contributions to American literature. However, a century later, the gifted women poets of this time period are little known compared to their male counterparts.

In this poetry collection, bestselling author Nikki Grimes uses "The Golden Shovel" method to create wholly original poems based on the works of these groundbreaking women--and to introduce readers to their work.

Each poem is paired with one-of-a-kind art from today's most exciting female African-American illustrators, alongside a foreword, an introduction to the history of the Harlem Renaissance, author's note, and poet biographies.

Author: Nikki Grimes
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published: 01/13/2026
Pages: 144
Binding Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781547611676
Audience: Ages 9-12
Award: Kirkus Prize - Finalist

About the Author

Nikki Grimes is a New York Times bestselling author; a 2023 inductee into the Black Authors Hall of Fame; and a recipient of the Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, the ALAN Award, the Children's Literature Legacy Award, the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Her distinguished works include the Printz Honor and Sibert Honor book Ordinary Hazards, the Coretta Scott King Award winner Bronx Masquerade and five Coretta Scott King Author Honors, the NAACP Image Award nominee Planet Middle School, the ALA Notable Book Southwest Sunrise, and A Cup of Quiet. She lives in Corona, California.
www.nikkigrimes.com