Walking Under the Sidewalk: Poems for Nikki Giovanni by Charlottesville Catholic School Students

Nikki Giovanni is a world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. One of the most widely-read American poets, she prides herself on being "a Black American, a daughter, a mother, a professor of English." Giovanni remains as determined and committed as ever to the fight for civil rights and equality. The author of some 30 books for both children and adults, Ms. Giovanni is a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. "Walking Under the Sidewalk" is a collection of poems in tribute to Nikki Giovanni. Be clear, the 5th graders at Charlottesville Catholic School not only wrote the poems--borrowed poems, inspired poems, biographical poems--in this book, they also came up with the title, proofread the poems, wrote the introduction, acknowledgments, and dedication, and helped design the cover. They owned the entire Book-in-a-Day process. So come, open these pages and take a walk with them. Under the sidewalk. Where the sun is so quiet, and soft songs are being spun for Nikki Giovannni.