by Moe Zilla

Created on: March 12, 2009

Nikki Grimes grew up in Harlem, and remembers that "books carried me away." She became a poet, and in 1997 created a series of books about two young girls, Danitra Brown and her friend Zuri Jackson. Each book collects poems about their everyday joys, with a story loosely connecting all the poems together. Grimes' characters seem so real, it's easy to wonder if she's recording memories from her own childhood. And in the third book in the series, "Danitra Brown, Class Clown," she's even written that it's dedicated "in celebration of friendship."

"School is in and I remember / How much I detest September." The new school year opens the book, and in rhyme Grime lists out all the things children worry about on the first day of school - a new teacher, a new classroom, difficult math, and bullies. But Zuri forgets all that because she's so happy to see her friend Danitra again, and when the teacher stumbles over Zuri's name, it's Danitra Brown who encourages Zuri to describe what it means. The poems capture a real friendship, which give Zuri new confidence in herself. She speaks honestly about her school, but the rhymes make it all feel playful.

In fact, some of the rhymes are genuinely funny. ("Everyone loved Miss Wexler / the teacher we had last year. She called us Miss and Mister. Too bad she's no longer here.") Grimes gently returns to her theme - that Zuri learns things from her friendship with Danitra Brown (who ignores all the new teacher's shortcomings). But there's a surprising twist when the story turns sad, and it's Miss Volchek who comforts the crying girl.

"My mom was very sick last month,

I think the whole school knew.

The doctor thought that she might die

and I believed it, too."

Realistic illustrations make the children seem real, and the artwork reminds me of the original "Dick and Jane" books (which made reading feel like something that children could relate to). The illustrations complement the thoughtful rhymes, as the book follows the two children through their school year. The homework is difficult. Zuri sings in the glee club. And she turns in her fateful math test.

It takes a skillful writer to accomplish this much in a book with just 16 rhymes - but Grimes manages to create meaningful scenes that showcase her characters. Danitra's got a "One of a kind hairdo, one of a kind smile," but the book accepts her quirky personality, and even seems to celebrate it. With pride, the narrator calls her a matchless tutor - and matchless friend. In the end, the book is about friendship, and Grimes concludes that no matter what happens next year, somehow it will be great.

Because the two friends will be there to make it great, together.

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