My Man Blue

Bibliography:

Grimes, Nikki. 1999. Ill. Jerome Lagarrigue. My Man Blue. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

ISBN: 0-8037-2326-1

Summary:

Damon finds himself in a new neighborhood, protective of his mom because he's the man of the house when Blue strolls into his life.  Respecting Damon's space, and coping with his own loss, Blue befriends Damon, providing him with a role model and a confidante.  Damon and Blue play basketball together, cruise the street, throw some jabs and discuss life's ups and downs, cultivating a friendship that will last a lifetime.

Analysis:

Nikki Grimes's book My Man Blue tells a tale of unexpected friendship and love through poetic verses.  Readers are introduced to Blue as a man with leathery skin "like indigo ink" who is essentially a "gentle-giant" (pg. 1).  Grimes's descriptive language, as just illustrated creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind.  Paired beautifully with the imagery, Grimes utilizes a smooth rhythm of text incorporating some alternating rhyme patterns as well as some free verse selections.  Possibly the most outstanding aspect of Damon and Blue's tale is the emotions that Grimes's words draw out.  Readers feel Damon's awe, pride and love for Blue as he describes Blue's hands as "strong stories" that he tells him "sometimes when I let him hold mine" (pg. 17).  In addition, Damon's description of his knees knocking from fear and Blue's consequent counseling give both Damon and the reader hope for a brighter future.

Supplementing Grimes's beautiful language are the bold colors and textural brush strokes of Jerome Lagarrigue.  Lagarrigue's combination of dark and light colors add depth and character to the pictures, bringing the poems to life.  My Man Blue combines vivid words with genuine pictures that evoke feelings of love, loss, security and friendship from readers creating a lasting impression long after the reader closes the book.

Reviews: 

"It is a story of a boy who is old for his age, but not callous—and perhaps saved from callousness by Blue. Lagarrigue’s illustrations are brooding gardens of color that hold the forces of disorder and menace at bay, while Damon’s cool earnestness—as well as his courage and independence—brighten each page."- Kirkus' Revies, 1999

Awards:

100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
A Booklist Editor's Choice
A Book Links Lasting Connection Book
Bank Street College Children's Book of the Year
Society of School Librarians International Honor Book

Connections:

• Author study - examine Nikki Grimes books and website www.nikkigrimes.com 
• Create a poem or group of poems about someone close to you
• 10 years later - write a letter either as Blue or Damon describing who you are today and what your friendship meant to you