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Nina: A Story of Nina Simone Hardcover – Picture Book, September 28, 2021

by Traci N. Todd (Author), Christian Robinson (Illustrator)

4.9 178 ratings

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A 2022 Coretta Scott King Book Award Honoree!

This luminous, defining picture book biography illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Christian Robinson, tells the remarkable and inspiring story of acclaimed singer Nina Simone and her bold, defiant, and exultant legacy.

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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.

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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 2-6-This book begins with a little girl, Nina Simone, who has a gift and a passion for music, whether gospel, jazz, or classical. As Simone grows up, she begins to notice more inequities and injustices. Her anger grows, and the focus of the book shifts to issues of the civil rights movement and Simone's role within it. Discussions of racism and resistance are undertaken with a skillful hand, not exceeding the tone or maturity level appropriate for young readers. Robinson's jewel-tone artwork is colorful, engaging, and complements Todd's lyrical text, supporting comprehension and revealing additional details about the time. For example, in one of the opening images, the subject's mother is hanging up laundry while chickens peck around baby Nina in a basket. The character's expressive faces add another dimension that will leave kids much to ponder. This is especially notable in a scene between two families who are segregated, where everyone is hurt by this unjust separation. This title would support curricular units on civil rights, biography, theme, and identity. Back matter includes more details about the artist's life and her relationship to the civil rights movement. VERDICT An excellent and magnetic biography, this book is highly recommended in all elementary collections and should be considered for libraries serving older students.-Christina Salazar, Mesquite I.S.D., TXα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

Praise for Nina:
A 2023 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List Pick
A 2022 Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
A 2022 ALA Notable Children’s Book
A 2022 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Winner
A 2022 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Finalist
A 2022 ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List Pick
A 2022 NCTE/CLA Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award Winner
A 2022 ILA Notable Book for a Global Society Award Winner
A 2022 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book Pick
A 2021 Publishers Weekly Best Book
A 2021 Kirkus Best Book
A 2021 Horn Book Fanfare List Pick
A 2021 Booklist Editors' Choice
A 2021 New York Public Library Best Book Pick
A 2021 Chicago Public Library Best Book Pick
A 2021 Black Caucus American Library Association Best of the Best Booklist Pick

★ “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

★ “Discussions of racism and resistance are undertaken with a skillful hand, not exceeding the tone or maturity level appropriate for young readers. Robinson’s jewel-tone artwork is colorful, engaging, and complements Todd’s lyrical text . . . An excellent and magnetic biography, this book is highly recommended in all elementary collections and should be considered for libraries serving older students.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“Luminous . . . [and] visually rapturous . . . Robinson imbues Nina with sumptuous colors . . . His elegantly simple figures recall the work of Ezra Jack Keats and occasionally Charles M. Schulz. . . Simone’s precocity, which shines through . . . is nurtured in intimate moments sitting on her father’s lap at the keyboard, letting him guide her as they play “good-time jazz” together, and on Sundays when she provides the rhythmic and “rolling” accompaniment to her minister mother’s sermons. Todd brings nuance to Simone’s musicianship in ways that should prove instructive to curious young readers. . . The journey to merge her astonishing virtuosity and professional achievements with her bold activism is summed up by the arresting portrait of the artist seated at her baby grand and flanked by four little Black girls.” —The New York Times Book 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

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (September 28, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 56 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1524737283
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1524737283
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD830L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.81 x 0.44 x 10.81 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #234,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #125 in Children's Musical Biographies (Books)
- #498 in Children's Multicultural Biographies
- #663 in Children's Black & African American Story Books

Customer Reviews:
4.9 178 ratings

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Christian Robinson
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Christian Robinson is a 2016 Caldecott Honoree and also received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for his art in Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña (Putnam, 2015); de la Peña himself took home the 2016 Newbery Medal, awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children for the "most distinguished book for children."
Leo: A Ghost Story, illustrated by Robinson and written by Mac Barnett (Chronicle, 2015), was named a 2015 New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year. His Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker, written by Patricia Hruby Powell (Chronicle, 2014) received numerous awards and accolades including a Sibert Informational Book Award Honor and a Coretta Scott King Award Illustration Honor from the American Library Association; a Boston Globe-Horn Book Nonfiction Honor; a Parents Choice Gold Medal for Poetry 2014; and a place on the Wall Street Journal's 10 Best Children's Books of the Year List. Robinson, based in San Francisco, is also an animator and has worked with The Sesame Street Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios.
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Traci N. Todd
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Traci N. Todd is the award-winning author of Nina: A Story of Nina Simone, and the editor of many successful books for children, including the New York Times bestselling The ABCs of Black History. She is especially interested in amplifying the experiences of Black and brown folks and in inspiring inquisitiveness, compassion, and hope in all children. She believes the truth is powerful. And she loves a beautiful picture book.
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4.9 out of 5

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Sara R

This story is so beautiful, you can feel your eyes glide from page to page

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2022

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Nina: A Story of Nina Simone written by Traci N. Todd and illustrations by Christian Robinson is the perfect book to highlight for Women’s History Month. Although I encourage you to read it as often as possible.
The story is written so beautifully, you can feel your eyes glide from page to page soaking up as much as you can.
With the illustrations matching the words beat for beat. So recognizable is the artwork of Christian Robinson yet when you read this story (and others he has done) you become immersed in the work. His style is brand new again and you are looking at it for the first time.

4 people found this helpful

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Stephan E.

Beautiful book for all ages

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2021

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I love Nina's music and she was a powerful voice who had an interesting life so was very excited to see this book.

My son is 7 and read a lot of it and really enjoyed it. Its a beautiful And moving book with beautiful illustrations.

Whethet you are a music lover, looking for power ful stories, diverse kids books, or just a lovely picture book I'd strongly recommend it.

5 people found this helpful

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Gabriele

Inspiring!

Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2022

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A beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated celebration of talent, perseverance, activism and triumph! This powerful, engaging biography of musician Nina Simone is truly inspiring.

One person found this helpful

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Ryan

Great story

Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2022

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Important story that helps kids and parents alike understand the importance of equal opportunities! It spark great conversations with my 6yo

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Susan Van Metre

A powerful, loving tribute

Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2021

Verified Purchase

This brilliant book. I admire it so much, and the space the author, Traci N. Todd, leaves for the reader to meet her words. It is a powerful, loving tribute to Nina Simone but also a love letter to Black Americans, particularly Black children. Even if you aren’t a Nina fan—and why wouldn’t you be?—you’ll find so much to admire here. And don’t skip the author’s note, which links the narrative to the author’s own life.