Nina’s pianos. The life of Nina Simone told by her pianos

Before becoming Nina Simone, her name was Eunice Waymon. How did this determined little girl climb the steps to success? The pianos she played on join their voices to tell us…

The church piano is amazed: the pastor’s daughter Eunice is moving rhythmically in her crib! The piano in the family home is amused: her feet don’t reach the pedals yet, but Eunice can already play songs by ear! The piano of her music teacher is astonished by her talent, the one of the municipal library reminds us that segregation is rumbling, the one of the church with which Eunice accompanies the choir testifies to her loneliness, the one of the town hall where she gives a recital sees her demanding that her parents, who have given up their place to white people, come back to the front row… And the pianos of her high school, of the Conservatory where she fails the entrance exam, of the singing studio that employs her and of the bar where she takes the name of Nina Simone are still telling the story.

A life told like a tale, a rich documentary book that sheds light on the young years of a future legend of music and the fight against racism.

Rights sold: Spanish language (world)

Key points:

⭐ A rhythmic, lively and well-documented text by Sophie Adriansen, a renowned children’s author and biographer of Nina Simone (Nina Simone, melody of struggle, Charleston, 2022)

⭐ An original narrative principle: the pianos tell the story of Nina Simone’s childhood and early career.

⭐ Swinging illustrations, a different chromatic universe on each spread.

⭐ 2023: anniversary of Nina Simone’s birth (90 years in February) and death (20 years in April)