June 29, 2023
Meet New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes, winner of the Tulsa Library Trust’s 2022 Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers’ Literature. Grimes' bestselling novels for youths inspire imaginations, dreams and pride in all ages. Her books encourage cultural awareness and the importance of believing in yourself.
All ages are invited to this free event on Thursday, July 13 from 6-7 p.m. at Hardesty Regional Library, 8316 E. 93rd St. Grimes will speak about her life and works, answer questions from the audience and sign books, which will be available for purchasing.
Grimes started writing poetry at age 6 and has since received over a dozen awards for her fiction, nonfiction and poetry books for elementary, middle-grade and young-adult readers. She is a prolific writer whose work connects with a range of readers through a variety of genres.
Whether fiction, poetry or nonfiction, there is a book or poem by Grimes for everyone. “I write about many different kinds of characters to show readers that we are more alike than we are different,” Grimes said. “I write stories to tell my readers that, no matter what obstacles life puts in their way, they have the capacity to survive, to thrive, to triumph over adversity.”
Grimes was originally scheduled to come to Tulsa to receive the 2022 Zarrow Award in May of last year, but had to postpone her visit due to an unforeseen circumstance.
The Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers’ Literature gives formal recognition, on behalf of the Tulsa County community, to a nationally acclaimed author who has made a significant contribution to the field of literature for young adults. The award, presented by the Tulsa Library Trust, consists of a $10,000 cash prize and an engraved crystal book.
For more information about the Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers’ Literature or library programming, call the AskUs Hotline at 918-549-7323 or visit www.tulsalibrary.org.
# # #