Nikki Shannon Smith is the author of numerous books, ranging from picture books to young adult.
She is also the illustrator of Dwayne Johnson: A Little Golden Book Biography ..
She graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in computer art and animation and currently lives in Queens, New York.
Her passion for art began in her third-grade science class with a dolphin drawing assignment.
Ronique Ellis grew up in the countryside of Jamaica and spent her childhood either tucked away reading or exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more about Nikki and her books at nikkishannonsmith.com.
The first thing she packs in her suitcase is always a book.
In her spare time she loves to visit the coast.
Nikki is a daydreamer, lover of sweets and scary movies, and frequent visitor of Disneyland.
She now lives in Davis, California, but sneaks away for conferences whenever she can.
She was a bookish child who sometimes got in trouble for reading instead of doing chores or homework.
Nikki was born and raised in Oakland.
Her writing is informed not only by her research but by her childlike curiosity and nearly thirty years of elementary school teaching experience.
She is passionate about the authentic representation of all children and writes stories depicting the history and struggles of Black people as well as Black joy.
Her forthcoming titles include Beautiful Colors (Random House/Little Golden Books, 2022) and additional board books in the Brown Baby Parade series.
Nikki also wrote A Star Like Jesse Owens , a Smithsonian historical fiction title about the 1936 Olympics.
Her work includes the Azaleah Lane chapter book series and five titles in Capstone\'s multi-author historical fiction/adventure middle-grade series, Girls Survive.
Nikki Shannon Smith is the author of numerous books, ranging from picture books to young adult
