Nina: A Story of Nina Simone Hardcover – Picture Book, September 28, 2021 by Traci N. Todd

Description

Author: Todd Traci N.

Color: Pink

Format: Picture Book

Package Dimensions: 14x275x671

Number Of Pages: 56

Release Date: 28-09-2021

Details: Product Description

This illuminating and defining picture book biography illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Christian Robinson, tells the story of little Eunice who grew up to become the acclaimed singer Nina Simone and her bold, defiant, and exultant legacy.

Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in small town North Carolina, Nina Simone was a musical child. She sang before she talked and learned to play piano at a very young age. With the support of her family and community, she received music lessons that introduced her to classical composers like Bach who remained with her and influenced her music throughout her life. She loved the way his music began softly and then tumbled to thunder, like her mother’s preaching, and in much the same way as her career. During her first performances under the name of Nina Simone her voice was rich and sweet but as the Civil Rights Movement gained steam, Nina’s voice soon became a thunderous roar as she raised her voice in powerful protest in the fight against racial inequality and discrimination.

Review

Praise for Nina:

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2021

★ “Nina Simone’s beauty and talent is given prominent expression by multiaward-winning Robinson in this picture-book biography . . . while
Todd’s prose eloquently tells her story from childhood to fame . . .
A worthy biography for all collections and especially for those that serve music-loving children.” —
Booklist,
starred review

★ “Todd’s telling
shines in this
skillfully paced portrait of Eunice Kathleen Waymon (1933-2003)—more widely known by her stage name of Nina Simone—which traces her journey from a piano-playing child in North Carolina to later years as a performer, protest song pioneer, and civil rights activist. . . An
engaging, affecting, and powerful biography that aptly situates Simone’s
enduring legacy in musical and social history.” —
Publisher’s Weekly,
starred review

★ “Todd’s
musical prose allows readers into Nina’s perspective, and Robinson’s scenes and portraits absolutely
sing with energy, keeping pace perfectly with the text. . . Do not miss this complex story of an American legend.” —
Kirkus Reviews,
starred review

★ “Some storytellers use words to entertain listeners and readers, while others share their tales in song.
Nina: A Story of Nina Simone
gracefully brings the life of one such legendary musician into readers’ hearts. . . Traci N. Todd’s straightforward narration is
honest and candid . . . [and] fans of Caldecott Honor illustrator Christian Robinson (
Last Stop on Market Street, The Bench) will immediately recognize the
bold, distinct shapes that are his hallmark. Robinson
outdoes himself here . . . reflecting on the
strength, hope and revolution she conveyed in her music.” –
BookPage,
starred review

★ “Todd ends her
unflinching narrative with a perfectly placed, direct-address line: “And when she sang of Black children—you lovely, precious dreams—her voiced sounded like hope.” This unexpected, yet needed, outpouring of love is the
perfect end to
a stunning book.” –
Horn Book Review,
starred review

★ “
Compelling and eloquent…Amplifying
Nina’s humanity is Robinson’s signature acrylic paint and collage art (
Last Stop on Market Street;
Milo Imagines the World), which always hums and thrums with life…Robinson creates
stunning visual music for Traci N. Todd’s
vibrant picture book biography of the great musician Nina Simone.” —
Shelf Awareness,
starred review

“Todd
moves effortlessly between
silky narration marked by
subtle wordplay, and pointed references to Simone’s
musical activism. Robinson’s collage compositions
convey critical civil rights context in scenes playing out atop Simone’s grand piano strings, often fiery images that contrast with the pictures of Simone’s childhood origin story and her front-stage panache.” —
The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

A
Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2021

About the Author

When Chicago native Traci N. Todd was born, her father decided her initi