A Dime a Dozen

Grimes, Nikki. 1998. A Dime a Dozen. Ill. by Angelo. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0-8037-2227-3.

The title of this book of autobiographical poems about Nikki Grimes’ childhood comes from what her mother said when Grimes said she wanted to be a writer: writers are “a dime a dozen.” Through these poems, the narrator explores what it means to differentiate herself from the other members of her family and chart her own course. Examining everything from the color of her skin and texture of her hair to the way to make potato salad, she tries - sometimes with confidence and sometimes uncertainly - to be herself as well as embracing the positive qualities of her family.

The family members – sister, mother, father, and grandmother – are well-rounded characters (the grandmother, arguing about the right way to peel potatoes, is especially well done). The black and white illustrations by Angelo add to the characterizations with touches like the father’s iconic beret. The themes are universal while the details offer a realistic portrayal of African-American culture.

The poems themselves are short, some free verse and some more heavily rhymed. They often deal with a particular moment that nevertheless has a larger meaning in the narrator’s life and quest for self-definition. I would read selections from this book aloud over a period of several days so that children could get the feel of the narrator’s experience – but not too many at once, so we could all have time to think over the meaning.

Shawn Brommer, writing in School Library Journal, calls this “A quietly profound, heartfelt work.”

Brommer, Shawn. School Library Journal. Qtd in Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/Dime-Dozen-Nikki-Grimes/dp/0803722273/sr=1-2/qid=1172185293/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-0423122-5982232?ie=UTF8&s=books.