Press

Materials and Information for Event Coordinators/Press

The material included on this page may be used, copied, and downloaded for press releases and event promotions. For a Press Kit PDF, please use the contact form.

Photo Credit (left): Alan Bradley of AFB Photography

Short Official Bio

Nikki Shannon Smith is an educator, presenter, and the award-winning author of over 20 published and forthcoming books, ranging from board books to young adult novels. She is the author of the Azaleah Lane chapter book series (Capstone) as well as the board book series Brown Baby Parade (PRH/Crown). Nikki's work includes two Little Golden Books (OUR BEAUTIFUL COLORS and THE LITTLE CHRISTMAS ELF), A Star Like Jesse Owens, a Smithsonian Historical Fiction title about the 1936 Olympics and five titles in Capstone’s multi-author, historical fiction/adventure, middle grade series, Girls Survive. Her Girls Survive title LENA AND THE BURNING OF GREENWOOD was the recipient of the 2023 Oklahoma Book Award in the Young Adult Category. Her middle grade novel, STRANDED, will be released on Sept. 17, 2024 (Scholastic).

Nikki was born and raised in Oakland, CA. She was a bookish child, who sometimes got in trouble for reading instead of doing chores or homework. She now lives in Woodland, CA, but sneaks away for conferences and author visits whenever she can. Nikki is a daydreamer, lover of sweets and scary movies, and frequent visitor of Disneyland. In her spare time she loves to visit the coast. The first thing she packs in her suitcase is always a book. Learn more about Nikki and her books at http://nikkishannonsmith.com/.

Nikki Shannon Smith holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, a Reading Specialist Credential, an Administrative Services Credential, and a Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Language and Literacy. Her writing is informed not only by her research and over 30 years in education, but by her child-like curiosity and a deep love for words.

Links to Media

MOST RECENT MEDIA LINKS:

Why Fathers Cry with Kwame Alexander, Part I: "Love Lessons" with Tinesha Davis & Nikki Shannon Smith; Why Father's Cry: One Year Later Special, June 2024

Video Interview with Connie Armstrong, Director of the Oklahoma Center for the Book and the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, June 28, 2023

The Writer Librarian Blog Interview with Karen McCoy, July 24, 2023

The Best Children's Books of the Year (2023 Edition), Bank Street College of Education, Children's Book Committee, 4/2023(Features LOVE IS ALL AROUND)

34th Annual Oklahoma Book Awards Announcement 4/23/23 (Features LENA AND THE BURNING OF GREENWOOD: A TULSA RACE MASSACRE SURVIVAL STORY)

Interview with Publisher's Weekly: "Q & A With Nikki Shannon Smith" (3/24/23)

Q & A with Nikki Shannon Smith (publishersweekly.com)

MORE MEDIA:

REVIEWS:

School Library Journal reviews Halloween Friends (Brown Baby Parade Series, Book 2): Five friends dress up and go trick-or-treating in this playful rhyming story that embraces the fun of Halloween. Wearing a range of costumes, including a ghost, a ballerina, a pumpkin, an astronaut, and the President, the group goes from door to door, greeted by a different person every time. Repetitive phrases and catchy rhymes make this a good interactive read-aloud choice. 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. 7/21/23

Kirkus reviews Lena and the Burning of Greenwood: A Tulsa Race Massacre Survival Story: "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..." Read the full review here.

Kirkus reviews The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane: "... a fast-paced and fun read...Young readers will be happy to make Azaleah's acquaintance." Read the full review here.

California Kids! December 2011, The Book Report, p. 13 Read it here. http://www.valcomnews.com/wp-content/PDFs/CalKids/CK1112.pdf

BLOGS:

When the Past Meets the Present...While You're Writing, a blog post for Capstone Publishing, 1/21/22. Click here to read the article.

TELEVISION:

The Today Show: Jill's Steals and Deals, 12/4/13, The Little Christmas Elf and other Little Golden Books are featured. (video no longer available)

INTERVIEWS:

View free online! "Justice for All", Bay Area Book Festival, 5/9/20, Nikki and Innosanto Nagara chat with moderator Aria Sindledecker about social justice and activism in children's books.

"That's Life" with Lois Richter on KDRT 8/1/19

California Kids! December 2016, Who Wrote That? p. 11

The Brown Bookshelf, 2/17/14, 28 Days Later

Writing Teazurs, 7/12/12, Interview with Nikki Shannon Smith: Author of The Little Christmas Elf

NEWS ARTICLES:

The Davis Enterprise, 2/27/19, Book Store Hosts Young-Reader Author

Blue Devil Hub, 2/2/19, Local Author Promotes Reading and Representation

The Davis Enterprise, 1/25/19, Local Author Nikki Smith to Sign Books at Avid Reader, Davis Library

The Davis Enterprise, 1/21/14, Meet the Authors: Patwin Students Learn from Authors in their Midst

Davis Life Magazine, 4/13/12, Korematsu’s Author on Stage

The Davis Enterprise, 11/27/11, Downtown Says Happy Holidays!

HONORS and AWARDS:

Oklahoma Book Award, Children's and Young Adult Category, LENA AND THE BURNING OF GREENWOOD: A TULSA RACE MASSACRE SURVIVAL STORY (2022)