This book is absolutely stunning in the way it introduces us to these incredible and raw poems written by women poets during the Harlem Renaissance period and then Nikki creates a whole new poem from parts of their poetry. It is truly magical. The illustrations are just incredibly beautiful. This book is a true gem.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It will be released January 5, 2021, by Bloomsbury Children's Books.

Nikki Grimes honours and inspires all Black girls and woman in this gorgeous compendium. I am inspired and honoured to be able to review it. I've preordered my own copy. You will want to do the same.

This swoon-worthy anthology is a celebration of Black womanhood. It is pure pleasure to be introduced to women poets of the Harlem Renaissance and modern Black woman painters through it.

The compilation is organized into four sections. Part 1, Heritage, includes poems that reflect Black women's history. Part 2, Earth Mother, references poets' connections to their environment. Part 2, Taking Notice, deals with the social and political reality of today. Part 4, The Resources section includes short biographies of the poets and illustrators whose work is included in this anthology. There is also a bibliography and an index.

The first three sections are formatted into numerous vignettes composed of three parts. An original poem is presented by one of these poets with a small part highlighted. Grimes uses these highlighted sections to create golden shovel poems. Each poetic pairing is accompanied by a painting that reflects the substance of the paired poems and ties it all together. Each little vignette creates a space of beauty to lose yourself in.

See for yourself in this example from the second section:

<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ODUYsf_UePM/X_IcZZGBATI/AAAAAAAAJE8/c02N1-hL918VXLf9beYUyf21PIB9qEtjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2704/niki%2Bgrimes.jpg"/>

I envision all kinds of uses for this book in schools and wish I was still teaching so I could use it as mentor text for part of a poetry unit.

Like a child in a candy shop, I highlighted and bookmarked almost too many sections to pick just one to share with you. There are lines like Grimes' Make each stanza strut in response to Gwendolyn Bennett's poem, Advice. I dare you to read the book yourself and try and pick just one best part.

I leave you with these final words from Journey's End, her poem of thankfulness,

They lift me
from the smallness
of other's
expectations,
reminding me
that I am more
than anyone
gives me credit for.

Purchase at least one copy for your school library.

Nikki Grimes didn't invent the Golden Shovel (which creates a new poem using a line or lines from an existing poem at the end of each new line) but she's mastered this challenging poetic form. With equal parts spunk and lyrical language, Grimes's poems draw parallels between the frustrations of Harlem Renaissance poets and those today, such as racism, sexism, and apathy towards climate change. It's pure joy to discover the poets of the Harlem Renaissance featured and see how Grimes builds on their words for more contemporary readers. The illustrations bring her words to life in some unexpected ways. This book is a great addition to a young person's poetry collection or a classroom poetry collection.

This children’s book introduces young readers to lesser known Harlem Renaissance poets. The focus is on women poets of that time who have not received recognition as their male contemporaries.

The selections of poems are excellent in their use of imagery, rhythm and other poetic devices. Nikki Grimes displays her creativity by using the Golden Shovel method to create a poem from a line in the Harlem Renaissance era. It is a way from Grimes and young readers to have a conversation with poets of the past.

This book also has gorgeous artwork to accompany the poem selection.

I was given the opportunity to review an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.

Oh. My. Goodness! I was so excited to get selected to digitally preview this book of poems but did not realize how much I needed to have a paper copy (or two) of Legacy in my classroom until I read through it. And reread some pages again (like her poem Kneel). I teach her novel Bronx Masquerade to my eighth grade students and we cover some Langston Hughes poems as well as student-selected poems to complement the story. First with this book, I can add more women's' voices as options and second, if we can figure out how to do it, I would like to try the Golden Shovel strategy she uses as a way to write and then perform our own poetry, just like Mr. Ward's students do. The illustrations are beautiful, the poetry is lovely and the whole book will be resource and a welcome addition to my library. Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #LegacyWomenPoetsoftheHarlemRenaissance by #NikkiGrimes - what an unexpected gift for me and my students!

A collection of poetry from lesser-known women of the Harlem Renaissance on racial rights, gender rights, and nature. Each poem is followed by a golden shovel poem by Nikki Grimes that includes one phrase from the Harlem poet’s poem serving as the last words of each line of Grimes’ poem. These two poems are then followed by an illustration by a woman of color. After the poems are paragraph biographies of each poet and artist featured in the book.

I will need to hunt down more poems by some of these ladies I had never heard of before. Some of their work was quite stunning. There should be a little something for everyone in here. I’d never heard of golden shovel poetry before, so it was interesting to see those and read how they can be challenging to put together. I liked the variety of artwork. This would be a fantastic collection to read during African American History Month, or any time for those interested in lesser known poets and unique poetry forms. This collection would be best appreciated by middle grade readers on up.

Notes on content: One poem includes a use of profanity. No sexual content. One poem is about a lynching and is sobering though not graphic.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Just as women composers, scientists, inventors, and mathematicians of history have been overlooked and undocumented, so too have female poets of the Harlem Renaissance. In Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance, poet Nikki Grimes has brought these ignored and forgotten poets to a new generation of readers. In addition to featuring their poems, she creates he own “Golden Shovel” poems by using a line from the original poems to create a new legacy of contemporary poetry.
The meaning and spirit of this beautiful collection of old and new poems is further enriched with art and illustrations in a way that is sure to delight young and old alike.

The poetry and illustrations in this book are amazing. There are so many things you could do with this book in a classroom setting the possibilities are endless. I really feel every one that teaches poetry needs this book in their back pocket. The poems in and of them selves are very moving. The way the poems flow and then add the beautiful illustrations make this books just a work of art. The poet biographies at the end are very neat and really add to the book. Add this to your classroom now, it will be added to my library.

Nikki Grimes is on fire! Not only does this beautiful book allow these Harlem Renaissance female poets to step forward in their own power, using their own voices, but when Grimes uses the Golden Shovel poetry form originated by Terrance Hayes, these new poems are used as praise songs for the originals.

This is the first time I have seen this form (Golden Shovel) but what a wonderful way to create voice and word play. This is also a fabulous way to take analysis out of the realm of academic "mansplaining" and into the realm of possibility and deep reverberations. Read this book, coming out in January 2021, to see what Grimes can do with this form.

The "rules" of Golden Shovel:
grab a striking line from a poem, or for short poems, take it in its entirety. Bold that striking line or poem.
Arrange that striking line or poem in a line, word by word, in the right margin
You then create. your new poem, keeping the borrowed line or poem as the last words of each line
The result is a lovely call and response from the ancestors to Ms. Grimes and back again. What a fabulous homage to these, until now, forgotten names that sit equal to Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Paul Laurence Dunbar.

If you loved 'One Last Word,' you will be over the moon for this new poetry/art anthology from Nikki Grimes. Each Harlem Renaissance poem is paired with a Nikki Grimes poem written in the golden shovel style she does so well and accompanied by an original work of art that complements the two poems. In the last half of the book, short bios on the poets and artists are included. Reading these beautiful is like balm for the soul and the artwork fires up the imagination. My favorite poem is entitled 'The Bronze Legacy (To A Brown Boy)' by Effie Lee Newsome, written in 1922:

Tis a noble gift to be brown, all brown,
Like the strongest things that make up this earth,
Like the mountains grave and grand,
Even like the very land,
Even like the trunks of trees—
Even oaks, to be like these!
God builds His strength in bronze.

To be brown like thrush and lark!
Like the subtle wren so dark!
Nay, the king of beasts wears brown;
Eagles are of this same hue.
I thank God, then, I am brown.
Brown has mighty things to do.

Thank you to Nikki Grimes, Bloomsbury Children's Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC digital copy. I have not been compensated for my opinion and this is an honest review.

Beautiful. Creative. Informative.

The ebook was fabulous, and I can't wait to see the print copy to better appreciate the artwork. I was inspired while reading the original poems and in awe of the Golden Shovel form used by Nikki Grimes. I had never heard of this poetry style before, and it worked so well to read the same words used in a completely different manner.

I am truly appreciative of the biographical information included about the original writers and artists. There are several that I plan to research further. For instance, I had learned of the Grimke' family when reading The Invention of Wings, so to see that name in this book instantly captured my attention!

This book was a beautiful mix of poems from women poets from the Harlem Renaissance (many of whom as an English major I didn't immediately know) and the contemporary poems of Nikki Grimes. Everything was paired seamlessly and the artwork was gorgeous. I particularly liked that in addition to the wonderful poetry, there were biographies and content that make it a valuable learning tool.

Before reading this, if someone would have asked me about women poets of the Harlem Renaissance, they would have received a blank stare. Not only does this book exposed me to some of the poetry and women poets, but it exposed me to various types of poetry. As a teacher (and life-long student), I am aware of various forms of poetry, but to see a poetry that reflects me has built an additional sense of pride. I will definitely buy this book for my classroom and my personal library. I would give this book ten out of ten!

Thanks to #NetGalley for providing me with an advance eBook arc in exchange for my unbiased, honest review.

Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance uplifts the voices of lesser known Black women poets during the Harlem Renaissance. Each featured poem reads as if it were written today. Grimes presents a new way to engage with these women and their work via her interpretation (using Terrance Hayes’ Golden Shovel poetry) and the beautifully done illustrations. Grimes begins and ends the text with her original works that seem to embody what it means to be Black and a woman. Grimes’ choice to highlight Black women poets and spotlight up and coming Black women illustrators embodies Black Girl Magic. I especially enjoyed reading the biographies of the poets at the end. Definitely a book I’d recommend adding to your library.

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!! I am already a huge fan of Nikki Grimes after reading Ordinary Hazards, so I was thrilled to get an opportunity to read this collection. The layout, the artwork and her unique way of connecting with the original poets of the Harlem Renaissance led to an amazing collection. I cannot wait to see this in physical form.

The preface explains that the accomplishments of women have often been forgotten (or erased) from history, so readers should not be surprised if they have never heard of the writers included in this collection. There is also a brief introduction to the Harlem Renaissance for those who are not familiar with the period and its incredible artistic outflow. Grimes also explains the form she has chosen to use in her response to each poem, the Golden Shovel. I must honestly say that it seems particularly difficult, but she says she enjoys the challenge of it. That must be true, because she does an amazing job of putting it to use. Back matter includes biographies of all the poets and all the artists featured in the book.

Now, on to the main body of the book. The poems she has chosen from these historical writers show a range of emotions and cover various topics. They are grouped into sections of Heritage, Earth Mother, and Taking Notice. Each poem has her response using a featured line in the Golden Shovel method. And each is also accompanied by an illustration from a talented female African-American illustrator. While the poets may not be well-known, the illustrators are a who's who of children's literature.

I would have read this book just because Nikki Grimes wrote it, or just because of the illustrators included in the project, or just because I love literature from the Harlem Renaissance. Finding all three in one book is a perfect blend of celebrating the past while showing how it inspires the present, and we may hope that it will continue to do so into the future.

Highly recommended for poetry lovers, fans of the Harlem Renaissance, or teachers putting together a unit on either.

I received an electronic ARC from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books through NetGalley.
Grimes shares poetry from women poets of the Harlem Renaissance. In support of each poet, she shares her own poem in "The Golden Shovel" format using lines from each woman's poem. A look at history and a beautiful tribute to the timeless power of poetry. The emotions leap off the pages as readers see the struggles and joys in the past and present, and, sadly, how some things have not changed in the intervening years. Along with the rich writings are lovely illustrations that leap off the page with their own powerful messages. After reading the poems, Grimes provides brief biographies of each poet and artist along with sources for further research.
This book allows readers to connect with the past and see why history matters.

As an intriguing exercise in poetry, this volume hits the mark. I can't wait to show it to the teacher in my school who teaches poetry and runs the poetry club. Nikki's use of the "Golden Shovel" technique of writing poems using words from others' poems is something that will feel very accessible to our high school students. That being said, Nikki described the Golden Shovel technique as using each word chosen from one line of another's poem as the last word in a line of original poetry; it doesn't look like Nikki followed her own definition -- although it could be that by reading the book on a Kindle, I couldn't properly see the line breaks.

Regardless, introducing or reintroducing the poems of these women from the Harlem Renaissance is worth the publication in itself. Add Nikki's additions, and we benefit from time and perspective, culture and experience.

My intention of providing the next part of my review in a somewhat interpretive way is not to sway your own opinions of the poetry itself, but instead to provide the way I interpreted the collection as a teaching tool as much as a book of poetry. My favorite poem was Alice Dunbar-Nelson's "I Sit and Sew." It feels very "of a time." Nikki's corresponding poem, "Room for Dreams," makes for an interesting comparison of the culture of a time. I felt the same parallel of a universal theme moving across time with Clarissa Scott Delany's "Joy" and Nikki's Leah's "Reunion." On the other hand, I perceived the pairing of Gertrude Parthenia McBrown's "Jehovah's Gesture" as an opposite to Nikki's "Judgment." Nikki even says in the introduction that her challenge was to make sense of and not just be derivative of the original poet's words. There are a few poem pairs that are a bit too similar, but is that really a problem? A shared experience doesn't lessen the experience for any individual. Plus, it's as interesting to see the similarities of culture in spite of the passing of time as it is to experience the opposites that arise from the same words used in different ways.

One of the beautiful poems included in this collection is Effie Lee Newsome's "The Bronze Legacy (to a Brown Boy)." In this case, Nikki's corresponding poem did not augment or improve upon the original one. I felt the same about "Prelude" by Lucy Ariel Williams; Nikki's "Slow Burn" felt too derivative.

Given the modern push toward PC language, I found "Advice" by Gwendolyn Bennett and Nikki's "Brown Poems" to reveal the irony of either choosing pale words to write dark poems or using the brown way of saying what the pale one said. That, and the push for PC isn't so modern.

Structurally, I understand why this would first be a book of poetry and then a contextual history volume. However, for many of us, the poems out-of-context from the poet leave gaps in the ability to relate, interpret, or visualize the context of the poem. To that I'd suggest introducing each poem set with the biography of the poet rather than grouping the biographies at the end. Including the index is a real plus for making this book a useful teaching tool.

This is 4 ⭐ as a teaching tool, 3 ⭐ as a book of poetry.

What a fantastic addition of poetry and legacy of African American women to be used in the classroom. Nikki always has a way to grasp her readers, and this story did not disappoint. I could definitely see pulling these poems out for lessons in the classroom.

Beautiful art, beautiful poetry, another winner from Grimes Readers young and old can learn about the female poets of the Harlem Renaissance.