G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers | 978-1524737283

At an early age, Eunice Kathleen Waymon discovered music.

“She wasn’t the first Waymon child, or the last, but she was the only one who sang before she could talk and found rhythm before she could walk. The only one with music on the inside.”

Eunice had talent and it wasn’t long before her mom’s employer, Mrs. Miller, heard Eunice play and “knew the little girl had a gift.”

Mrs. Miller’s friend – Muriel Mazzanovich – was a piano teacher. Together, Miss Mazzy and Mrs. Miller “carefully planned Eunice’s musical education.”

Soon, Eunice was learning concertos and fugues, and the people around town began to recognize her on the street.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © illustration by Christian Robinson

But all was not well. These were Jim Crow times, and that meant that Eunice felt the sting of discrimination. It wasn’t easy tamping down the anger that was growing inside her, but Eunice had dreams. She spent the summer at Juilliard School of Music in New York City and then, Eunice hoped to be accepted at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadephia.

Things didn’t go as planned and Eunice wasn’t accepted to the Institute. The rumor was that she’d been rejected because she was Black.

“The old familiar anger and hurt came rushing back. And for the first time, Eunice wondered whether being Black meant an end to all of her dreams.”

Eunice stopped playing piano and worked in a photography studio for a time. But she couldn’t keep music bottled up inside forever.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © illustration by Christian Robinson

Eventually, she found work playing in bars and changed her name to Nina Simone. As her star began to rise, so did the voices of her people, protesting racial inequality and discrimination. Would Nina continue to tamp down the quiet anger that had simmered for years? Would she join the voices of others to fight against injustice?

This important biography, brilliantly and lyrically told by Traci N. Todd and illustrated by Caldecott Honoree, Christian Robinson with acrylic paint and collage, is a masterpiece appropriate for all ages.

Enjoy this:

• School Library Journal interview with author Tracy Todd and librarian Betsy Bird
• NPR interview with Tracy N. Todd and Christian Robinson
• video introduction and discussion of the book with Traci N. Todd and Christian Robinson