At the Library
by Nikki Grimes
I flip the pages of a book and slip inside
where crystal seas await and pirates hide.
I find a paradise where birds can talk,
where children fly and trees prefer to walk.
Sometimes I end up on a city street.
I recognize the brown-skin girl I meet.
She’s skinny, but she’s strong, and brave, and wise.
I smile because I see me in her eyes.
Copyright © 1997 Nikki Grimes. From the book It’s Raining Laughter. Dial Books for Young Readers. Reprinted by permission of the author.
About The Author
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.
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83 responses to “At the Library”
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I love those crystal seas and flying children! Perfect poem given all the diversity conversation lately, too!
me to!
same
cool
That was really good!
It was all right but I think it inspired me a bit
This also reminds me
sorry i dont really like its ok tho
Terrific poem by a favorite poet! I love how Nikki recognizes the wisdom kids have. So much inside and so often it doesn’t come out soon enough.
Love it!
ha
I LOVE THIS POEM IT REMINDED ME OF ME!
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE IT!!!!!!
WOW! Its pretty good! (UVU)
I Really Like This This Poem is like A World of “Wise Freedom” Like That is Sooo Cool! :3
me too
that poem is soooo me when i read!!!!!
Good peom it tell alot
Nice Poem!!!!!
I LOVE THIS POEM IT REMINDED ME OF ME!
Why
nice poem. :)
wow i,ts awesome
What is the theme of this poem and what does it means when they say I smile because I see me in her eyes
Nice poem
I hate poems but this one is good
I like poems because they can be turned into songs.
Cool :)
Wow ‘this is amazing!
I love this poem!!!
I really like this poem
i think the poem was okay.
boo
I like it :(
love bug I agree
great
Fun and good
I love it
I like this book.
great poem
I really like the poem because it is creative
This was a great poem, loved the creativity.
i relly liked it
this is amazing
it was bad
I LOVE it
I LOVE it it’s not bad
your poem is awesome love it
hi :)
i liked it
Good poem
Cool
Love this!
This is a good story!
I’ve deffinetly seen better but they were really long and we had to memorise them in order to recite them on Fridays in assembally so that had a lot to do with it. For a nice short and simple poem it’s really good!
Great poem i could really understand the narrater’s feelings about reading books.
I like it as well, because Nikki shows Nikki’s feelings about how much she likes to read books.
hey this is fun
I LOVE IT!
hate it!
I didnt really get it thus i didnt like it
same
I really like it! It is incredibly diverse and well written.
I really like it! It is incredibly diverse and well written. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Same
It is definitely a good poem to teach kids how FUN reading CAN be!!!
it was good person named “me”go to heck
this is good
Really great poem. I enjoyed reading it.
it was ok
:D yay cool
I LOVE THIS POEM IT REMINDS ME OF WELL ME!!! IN EVERY WAY
cool
Ruby Bridges? She’s awesome!
Love the poem BIG TIME!!!!!!
Nice Poem!!!!!!
It was so interesting
it was fine
love it
nice poem
I love this! It really brings out detail and makes you think of what beauty our world has and also emphasizes how much wisdom kids can have.
nice
It was ok you know.