Nikki Grimes
Nikki Grimes
Nikki Grimes
From a Child's Heart

writ­ten by Nik­ki Grimes
illus­trat­ed by Bren­da Joy­smith
Just Us Books, 1993

Find this book at your favorite library or used bookseller.

From a Child’s Heart

Like the chil­dren in this book, when I was a child, I talked to God about my hopes, my fears, my long­ings, and all the ordi­nary, every­day con­cerns that touched my life. I still do. It’s awe­some to know that the God of the Uni­verse is lis­ten­ing, that He cares, that He under­stands me, even when no one else does. I need­ed to know that when I was grow­ing up. I think all chil­dren do, whether five years old or fifty. That’s the rea­son I’ve decid­ed to share the prayers of my child­hood with you …

An excerpt from the book:

Since we moved here, God
You’re the only friend I’ve got
which is okay, I guess
—or maybe not. I mean,
I sure would like to have a bud­dy my own size.
I bet You know that, though,
since Mama says You’re wise.
Could You give me a new friend?
Some­one with a bas­ket­ball?
You and me will still be friends and all,
But right now,
I need some­body who’ll invite me out to play.
Is that okay?

from From A Child’s Heart
© 1993 by Nik­ki Grimes

Awards and Recognition

  • Coop­er­a­tive Chil­dren’s Book Cen­ter Choic­es
  • CBC Not Just for Chil­dren Any­more List

Resources

From a Child’s Heart is a col­lec­tion of poems from Nik­ki Grimes inspired by pic­tures from Bren­da Joy­smith. In this writ­ing prompt, Nik­ki chal­lenges writ­ers to look at an inspi­ra­tional pho­to or piece of art and cre­ate their own poem!

Reviews

To see the world with­out prej­u­dice, hate or phys­i­cal pain is to look at the world through a child’s eyes. In these short poems, Grimes reveals the hearts and souls of chil­dren as they speak one-on-one to the Cre­ator. (Amer­i­can Visions)

Find this book at your favorite library or used bookseller.