STRANDED is available in stores and at Scholastic Book Fairs
STRANDED (Scholastic)
STRANDED is a nominee for the 2026 Georgia Children's Book Award and the 2026 Tennessee Volunteer State Award!
EDUCATORS! Download the Stranded Discussion Guide HERE!
WATCH THE AMAZING TRAILER FOR STRANDED HERE!
One storm. One winter. One girl's fight for survival.
A contemporary My Side of the Mountain, Stranded is the story of Ava, a wilderness-hungry girl from Manhattan, whose journey in the Adirondack mountains becomes a nail-biting story of courage, independence, and survival.
PRAISE FOR STRANDED:
"Readers will root for Ava as she draws on her ingenuity and strength to survive alone, deep in the Adirondack woods. This gripping tale, loaded with suspense and riveting details, is the modern-day answer to Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet, a fresh and inclusive take on the classic wilderness survival story."
~Kate Messner, award-winning author of Breakout
“I rooted for Ava the whole way. A great read for those who love tough-as-nails characters and the incredible lengths they go to live, survive, and flourish.”
–Meika Hashimoto, award-winning author of The Trail
New Release, 5/20/25!
AMAZON EDITORS' PICK!
Best Books of the Month (May), Baby-Age 2
Baby and Daddy are taking a walk in their neighborhood! Read along as they say hello to their friends and celebrate their community....
Baby’s home with Daddy.
He wants to take a walk.
They have friendly neighbors,
who like to wave and talk.
New Release, 5/6/25!
Letters to misty (Aladdin)
Buy Now: Letters to Misty: How to Move Through Life with Confidence and Grace by Misty Copeland with Nikki Shannon Smith
New York Times bestselling author and first black female American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland offers advice for on and off the dance floor to young readers based on letters she’s received over the years from fans.
As the first African American principal female dancer at American Ballet Theatre, Misty Copeland has spent most of her career navigating a white-dominated industry that puts many barriers in her path. Through it all, Misty has credited the many mentors who have helped her become the dancer and person she is today.
With Misty’s profile now at peak heights, she has now found herself in a mentor role herself, often asked for advice on everything from dance-specific questions to life lessons about being the “other” in certain spaces by her fans. As Misty herself has said, “I think it’s really important to have a community around you, a support system, mentors, people that are going to be there for you on those days when you just aren’t strong enough to do it yourself.”
Given that philosophy, Misty is thrilled to bring this book of advice to life, covering everything from body confidence to balancing various commitments and how to break out of your comfort zone. Each section includes personal anecdotes from Misty about the topic that bring her perspective to life.
The book is co-written with author Nikki Shannon Smith and is due out from Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, on May 6, 2025. In it, Copeland offers life advice to young readers based on the letters she herself has received over the years from fans.
See the COVER REVEAL on people.com!
Nikki's Brown Baby Parade Board Book Series
AMAZON EDITORS' PICK!
Best Books of the Month (May), Baby-Age 2
Baby and Daddy are taking a walk in their neighborhood! Read along as they say hello to their friends and celebrate their community....
Baby’s home with Daddy.
He wants to take a walk.
They have friendly neighbors,
who like to wave and talk.
There is a lot to do on the family farm! Read along in this sturdy board book perfect for children ages 0-3 as a boy helps his grandfather in this next installment of the Brown Baby Parade series.
*Amazon Editors' Pick: Best Books for December
(Baby-Age 2)
*Amazon Editors' Pick: Sweet and Funny Valentine's Day Books for Kids
(Baby-Age 3)
* Named one of the Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year for 2022!
It’s Halloween, and little friends are all dressed up! Follow along as they go from house to house, having fun and saying "Trick-or-treat!" in this second installment of the Brown Baby Parade series.
From School Library Journal, 7/21/23:
"Repetitive phrases and catchy rhymes make this a good interactive read-aloud choice... Spreads alternate between a trick-or-treat stop and the friends on the move to the next home, enjoying each other’s company. There are no scares here, just excitement. The illustrations focus on a lively night in the life of five brown-skinned children, and Hodge shows a range of complexions and hair textures; one child wears a hijab. VERDICT An inclusive book that focuses on fun, this is a delightful seasonal purchase."
It’s 10 days ’til Christmas! A little girl and her family prepare by putting up the tree, wrapping presents, baking delicious treats, and much more. Read along as they count down to Christmas Day!
It’s 10 days ‘til Christmas!
We set up our tree—
ornaments, twinkling lights,
pretty as can be.
It’s time for some Easter fun! Read along as a young girl spends Easter Sunday with her family in this next installment of the Brown Baby Parade board book series that's perfect for ages 0-3.
I quickly spy a pink egg.
But guess what? There are more!
We have to keep on hunting,
much harder than before.
Our Beautiful Colors, A Little Golden Book
*Amazon #1 New Release
*Amazon Editors' Pick: Best Books for December
(Ages 3-5)
*Read Brightly Pick: The Best Children's and YA
Books of December
*Featured on the Cover of The California Reader
(A publication of the CA Reading Association)
Volume 56, Number 1, Winter 2023
Oklahoma Book Award Finalist
In April 2023, Lena and the Burning of Greenwood: A Tulsa Race Massacre Survival Story was awarded the Oklahoma Book Award in the category of Children's and Young Adult Books.
Lena and the Burning of Greenwood
Part of Capstone's Girls Survive Series
From Kirkus: "This well-plotted fictionalized account of the Tulsa Race Massacre geared at young readers is emotionally challenging but necessary. Smith’s narrative deftly captures a child’s emotional and psychological experience of the tragedy as well as the tenderness shared among Lena and her family members. Jenai’s black-and-white digital illustrations, which appear every few pages, depict only Black characters and help readers imagine the historical setting. The thoughtful, informative backmatter will help adults lead discussions with children. An unflinching account of the Tulsa Race Massacre seen through the eyes of a young Black girl." Click HERE for the full review.
Read Nikki's Blogpost about writing Lena and the Burning of Greenwood on Capstone's website: When the Past Meets the Present... While You're Writing
Excerpt: The story of the Tulsa Race Massacre was one I wasn’t sure I wanted to—or should—tell. We needed stories about Black joy. I didn’t know if I could tell this story the way it deserved to be told. What happened in Greenwood had been kept quiet for a variety of reasons, ranging from too-painful memories and a desire to move forward, to a concerted effort to sweep what happened under the carpet. But the story needed to be told.
I held onto the words of Tulsa Race Massacre survivor, Ernestine Alpha Gibbs: “Maybe if we talk about it enough, it’ll never be again.”
The Azaleah Lane Series
Praise for Azaleah Lane
The Scientific Life of Azaleah Lane was included on the Boston Public Library's "Black is..." booklist for 2022.
The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane was nominated for a 2020 Cybils Award!
The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane and The Dramatic Life of Azaleah Lane are on the Chicago Public Library's Best K-3 Fiction Books of 2020!
Azaleah Lane is on The 2020 Ultimate List of Diverse Children's Books!
Kirkus says: " This inaugural book in the Azaleah Lane series is a fast-paced and fun read, and Azaleah is a sympathetic, likable narrator who, like readers, is learning new vocabulary all the time. She thinks aloud as she works to solve the mystery, occasionally (and realistically) losing patience with the sobbing Tiana. Lobo’s playful, full-color illustrations every few pages are just enough to give transitioning readers needed rests so they’ll keep going... The backmatter includes a glossary of vocabulary words, book-discussion and writing prompts, and instructions for making a diorama."
School Library Journal says, "Azaleah works well as an appealing character full of zeal and enthusiasm... A good choice for libraries that need more light, realistic mysteries for the early middle grade crowd."
