BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Grimes. Nikki. 1994. Meet Danitra Brown. Ill. by Floyd Cooper. New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books. ISBN: 9780688120740

PLOT SUMMARY:

Meet Danitra Brown is a collection of thirteen poems that chronicles the friendship of two young girls, Danitra Brown and Zuri Jackson. The poems include situations of being bullied, feeling different, comfort in friendship, and the joy of riding a bike with a friend.

Each poem is illustrated with rich colors depicting the mood and bond of the friendship.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

In reading the poems that portrays the friendship between these two girls, many readers may remember or relate to friendships they have had. The memory of the sheer delight of riding a bike and feeling like you were flying and sharing it with a friend; or a moment of feeling sad and confiding in a friend who had a comforting word to help. But mostly the memory of just sharing time with a best friend is what comes through in these beautiful poems about the friendship between two girls.

Floyd Cooper did the artwork, oil wash illustrations, which involve painting with oil on an illustration board and using an eraser to remove some of it. The effect is a soft gauzy look, almost like oil pastels. The colors in the illustrations are aglow with richness and warmth. One memorable illustration goes with the poem “Culture”. The moment of two girls acting out the scenes from a play is beautifully captured, the twirling and romping that ensued is alive on the page, and one can almost hear the giggles.

Meet Danitra Brown won the ALA Notable Book Award and the Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

Publisher’s Weekly: (starred review) “Anyone who has a best friend can relate to this realistic but bubbly volume.”

School Library Journal: “The poignant text and lovely pictures are an excellent collaboration, resulting in a look at touching moments of friendship with universal appeal.”

CONNECTIONS:

• For more books by Nikki Grimes about the friendship of Danitra and Zuri try:

Grimes, Nikki. Danitra Brown, Class Clown. ISBN: 9780688172909

Grimes, Nikki. Danitra Brown Leaves Town. ISBN: 9780688131555