Traci N. Todd is the award-winning author of Nina: A Story of Nina Simone ; Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes, and Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins.

She is also the editor of many successful books for children, including the New York Times-bestselling The ABCs of Black History. tracitodd.com

Awards

Nina: A Story of Nina Simone was a 2022 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honoree and 2022 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Winner. Holding Her Own was a 2023 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honoree, a 2023 Sibert Honoree, and Bank Street College Best Children’s Book, Outstanding Merit.

3 Fun Facts

1. I played clarinet in the marching band all through high school and college.
2. “Clue” is one of my favorite movies, but I don’t like the board game.
3. Like Bluey, I enjoy singing random things around the house.