Nikki Giovanni books in order
American poet, writer and activist
- Lived
- 1943–2024
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 32
Nikki Giovanni published 4 novellas, 5 non-fiction books, 5 children's books, 16 poetry collections and 2 other books, beginning with Black Feeling, Black Talk, Black Judgement (1970).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Nikki Giovanni
Start here
Black Feeling, Black Talk, Black Judgement
Nikki Giovanni's most-read book.
Novellas in order
Love Poems (1997)
Acolytes (2007)
Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea (2008)
Bicycles (2009)
Non-fiction in order
Gemini (1971)
Dialogue (1973)
Sacred Cows-- and Other Edibles (1988)
Conversations with Nikki Giovanni (1992)
Racism 101 (1994)
Children's books in order
Spin a Soft Black Song (1985)
The Genie in the Jar (1996)
Rosa (2005)
On My Journey Now (2007)
The Grasshopper's Song (2008)
Poetry in order
Black Feeling, Black Talk (1970)
Black Feeling, Black Talk, Black Judgement (1970)
My House (1972)
Ego-Tripping and Other Poems for Young People (1973)
The Women and the Men (1975)
Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day (1978)
Vacation Time (1980)
Those Who Ride the Night Winds (1983)
Knoxville, Tennessee (1994)
The Selected Poems of Nikki Giovanni (1996)
The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection (2002)
The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni, 1968–1998 (2003)
Hip Hop Speaks to Children (2008)
The 100 Best African American Poems (2010)
Chasing Utopia: A Hybrid (2013)
Make Me Rain (2020)
Other books in order
Blues: for All the Changes (2008)
Nikki Giovanni (2017)
About Nikki Giovanni
Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni Jr. was an American poet, writer, commentator, activist and educator. One of the world's best-known African-American poets, her work includes poetry anthologies, poetry recordings, and nonfiction essays, and covers topics ranging from race and social issues to children's literature. She won numerous awards, including the Langston Hughes Medal and the NAACP Image Award. She was nominated for a 2004 Grammy Award for her poetry album, The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. Additionally, she was named as one of Oprah Winfrey's 25 "Living Legends". Giovanni was a member of The Wintergreen Women Writers Collective.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Nikki Giovanni FAQ
- How many books has Nikki Giovanni written?
- Nikki Giovanni published 4 novellas, 5 non-fiction books, 5 children's books, 16 poetry collections and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Nikki Giovanni's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Black Feeling, Black Talk, Black Judgement.
- What is Nikki Giovanni's last book?
- Bicycles (2009).
- What is Nikki Giovanni's most famous book?
- Black Feeling, Black Talk, Black Judgement (1970) is Nikki Giovanni's most widely read book.
Authors like Nikki Giovanni
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.