ONE LAST WORD: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes. New York:  Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2017. 120p.  ISBN 9781619 635548 hc.$18.99   Gr. 6-8   JNF 811.54

This book melds the words of renowned poets, such as Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Bennett, with the original poetry of Nikki Grimes.  One follows the other like stepping stones through the book, reminding me of Natalie Cole recording music with the voice of her father, Nat King Cole, and coming up with lovely new songs.  Grimes employs the "golden shovel" technique for writing poems by choosing a line from a famous poem and using those very words in an original poem.  The new poem uses the same theme, but updates it's timeless emotion.  The book designer has bolded these key words for readers.  To top off this literary experience, readers will find single page, full color paintings by contemporary artists, such as E.B. Lewis and Brian Pinkney.   Grimes separates the book into three parts and includes a Resource section of poet and artist biographies at the end.  She also prefaces the poetry with history on the Harlem Renaissance to lay the way for a well-constructed afternoon of poetry.
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI