Words With Wings

Words with Wings
by Nikki Grimes
96 pages; ages 8 - 12
Wordsong, 2013

Can't leave April without reviewing at least one book of poetry. Words with Wings is more than a collection of great poems by Nikki Grimes - it's a novel in verse.

Gabby - Gabriella, named after the archangel Gabriel - is a daydreamer. She uses her daydreams to take her away from the screaming between her unhappy parents, and also to remember the good times they shared as a family.

Her daydreams take flights from words that don't sit on the page. Instead they wiggle and tickle her imagination and carry her thoughts away. And all Gabby can do is hang on for the ride.

She finds a friend whose imagination takes flight in drawing, and another friend in the teacher who appreciates her imagination, daydreams and all. When he comes up with "daydream time" it helps Gabby tame her flights of imagination and find a way to focus on learning without giving up her delicious daydreams.

Review copy provided by publisher.