Earlier this week, I was chatting with a friend about the inspiration behind our children’s names. It reminded me of how much thought went into choosing names for our kiddos, and it led me to remind them (for the millionth time) of the stories behind their names. Our oldest is “Nina,” and she was named after the entertainer and activist Nina Simone. 

Nina Simone was one of the most extraordinary artists of the twentieth century, an icon of American music. She was the consummate musical storyteller, a griot as she would come to learn, who used her remarkable talent to create a legacy of liberation, empowerment, passion, and love through a magnificent body of works.

NinaSimone.com

My girls have been dying to help out with my channel, so after our conversation, they hopped on to give a quick review of their favorite Nina Simone books. They also managed to slip in a couple of books illustrated by the same artist, Christian Robinson.

Christian Robinson is an illustrator, author, animator, and designer based in Oakland, California. He was born in Los Angeles and grew up in a small one-bedroom apartment with his brother, two cousins, aunt, and grandmother. Drawing became a way to make space for himself and to create the kind of world he wanted to see. Read more about Christian

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If you’re interested in checking out some of Christian Robinson’s beautiful picture books, follow the links below.

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