A Kid’s Conversation About Emotions, With Author Nakita Simpson

Author Interview: Nakita Simpson, A Kids Book About Emotions

On today's episode, we talk with Nakita Simpson, Author of A Kid's Book About Emotions! This interactive book allows readers to color along with the story to bring their emotions to life.

As Nakita, explains, there is no right or wrong way to experience emotions, and we uncover all the feels in this episode, with nuggets of wisdom from the Author herself.

This interactive book allows readers to color along with the story to bring their emotions to life. There is no right or wrong way to feel emotions, and we uncover all the feels in this episode. We invite you to read along with us, and find this and other important stories at www.AKidsBookAbout.com. 

To find more great stories for kids at A Kid's Book About  and excerpts from this conversation between Cyla and Nakita on IG at @akidsbookabout

All affiliate funds raised through this link are used to donate books from A Kid’s Book About series to fellow listeners and school libraries in neighboring communities.  Click here for 25% off your first 3 books! 

Transcription:

[1:01] Okay. Hi. We're talking to Nikita Simpson today.

She is the incredibly talented author of a kids book about emotions on. We're super glad she could join us today.

I'm so glad to be here. It's a little overcast and gray, but still pretty sunny and bright here in Portland, Oregon.

Its's here.

[1:27] Is it snowing in Atlanta? It's kind of a little flurry. So we were feeling you on Portland thinking you're gonna have, like, this winter dread going on. But I'm glad to see you're bringing the sunshine to us from Portland today.

Thank you so much for being with us. So this weekend we had an opportunity to read your book, which is something you're n dear to our hearts, because I think the silent has a pretty good job of explaining her emotions.

I think that we have a good you do a great job of using your voice to explain what's going in in your heart.

What are some of the words that you use to describe emotions?

Monster! Monster. Right, Nikita used that in her book, didn't she?

Sometimes it feels like a monster. What else have you used to explain your emotions love, er, ball love her balls.

Sometimes when she's so joyous she feels like there. There's, like love her balls inside.

So I don't know if you could describe emotion that way, but I think she does a good job that I love that that's a new one. I usually go for bubbles, but I've never heard of that one before. I'm gonna have to put that in my mental list. Sharing that.

[2:38] Yeah. Bubbles. Can you be bubbly and sparkly? Have sparkly emotions.

That's one way to do for sure. So we were reading your book and we came across so many great ways to really express our emotion.

And one of the ways that you've offered Children to be able to do that while they're reading this book is through art and literally coloring it in from the cover to the inset and style. I know you really enjoyed that, right? Uh huh.

What? What did you use to color this book?

I used like Jell glitter pens. I used markers, flare pins.

Was it fun to color on a hard copy book like this? Like it's kind of like breaking the rules a little bit right? Yeah.

There's not something you see every day. You don't always see this, right?

So did you get this inspiration from being an artist or being an art lover? Yourself or what? Drew you, Thio?

Allowing us to be part of your story. You know, it's really funny that you ask that because when we were work shopping the book, uh, and it usually happens with the A kids book about team.

Jelani approached me and was like, I have a crazy idea.

[3:53] I'm like, I don't even know what it is, but I'm sold right? No idea that it is. That's how you roll of it.

Yeah, And he asked, just because I work in advertising, I come from a design background. After studying that in school, he wondered if I'd be open to making this a coloring book.

[4:13] And it just makes so much sense. Most of my life is tinged in color. I'm a color fanatic.

I love monochromatic or color organized things.

Um, and it just felt like a really great and natural hand in hand pairing to take the time to take your emotions, try to color them in in a way that didn't feel traditional.

And it also was inspired by how I always doodled in books more than I doodled or made notes in my notebooks.

Anyways, on it felt like a really great opportunity to express yourself in a new way.

So why not make it a coloring book? It was definitely inspired by art and seeing how different artists take their feelings and put it on a canvas or on a piece of paper or in a coloring book, and share how they felt Yeah, that's a great answer.

I think you find a lot of similarities in that. To Pilot does a lot of art herself. So ah, lot of it.

We're super drawn to that. So she's got a couple of questions where you want to take the next one. Sure.

[5:16] So what? You were just talking about about how why you made it a coloring book.

It's sort of answered this next question, but why was it important to write a kids book about emotions?

Thank you for that zyla. I think it was important to write a kids book about emotions because I thought a lot about my experience with my mom.

She wanted to make sure that when she was a parent, she gave her kids a better experience that she had then when she was a kid.

[5:49] And parking place. Oh, yeah, like, thank you.

[5:57] That's awesome. And I'm pretty sure you understand that parenting is not easy.

She had me when she was also growing up herself.

Um, she and my my dad, we're understanding how to raise this audacious, spunky young black girl in the world.

[6:17] And my mom also recognize that she wanted toe really cultivate a strong relationship with her daughter.

So she found different ways to encourage me and to channel all of the.

[6:27] Extroverted feelings all of the sensitive nature that is me since I am a sensitive will love bug, Andi and find creative ways toe talk about them, find thoughtful ways. Thio, Talk about my day.

If I was feeling really upset and we were mad at each other, we talked it out.

Maybe we took a break and we caught up over lunch when I was in school and she would bring me some sack lunch. Or maybe we would wait until dinner and we would get to a really tough conversation before we went to bed to make sure we weren't angry before he went to sleep.

That was super important for me to understand myself as a human, as a person, understanding my identity by shifting and learning through my emotions.

[7:11] And I thought that was so valuable. And when Jelani was talking about,

all the different catalog of books that he wanted to make, I thought it would be so important to make sure that kids felt encourage and not scared to talk about their emotions and toe brain grownups into the conversations, too, so that we've grown ups.

Also remember that kids are people that have really complex lives, and they should feel comfortable asking right questions and making a safe place for kids to talk about their emotions and how they feel about the world inside them and around them all the time.

What a beautiful and thoughtful response. Nikita, I feel like we can probably relate.

Well, we can relate with so much of what you just said, and,

it's really the antithesis of this of this show and our and teaching each other toe listen to each other and, um, toe ask the right questions of each other and ourselves.

And as young women, um, really nurture that.

And so I honor your your tribute to your mother and yeah, I find ah, lot of similarities and that myself, So thanks so much for sharing that with us.

I have one quick question. What? What? Yeah, Mississippi East or whatever that word was?

Yes, it kind of means like it embodies everything. It's like the meaning of that, like the some of the of the situation, right?

[8:38] It's like the underlying the baseline meeting. At least that's what I meant from it.

[8:42] Don't quote me on that Webster's. I'm no literary genius. I'm just a mom.

[8:50] I'm quote antithesis.

So we had this question because we were actually having ah hard time ourselves today talking about emotions.

But what about this question?

[9:05] Why is talking about emotions so hard?

[9:09] For all of us. Toe.

[9:14] Yeah, that's a good. That's a good question, because I am about to be 30 this year, and it's still hard for me to talk about emotions with people that I'm even close to, or people that I don't even know that well.

[9:28] I think it's hard because kind of like how the brain names itself and its figuring itself out.

You're kind of trying to figure out the world inside you, and maybe you don't always have the words to explain how you're feeling.

Or maybe you're just not sure of what it is that you are feeling or what emotion you can name it.

And it's maybe until the moment has passed or the event has already happened. That brought up the emotion that feels so confusing that you have a little clarity or you have some distance away from it.

It's hard toe. Try to figure yourself out, and also sometimes it's hard to figure yourself out when you're doing it alone.

[10:08] Yeah, that's I think what makes it so really tough, at least from my perspective and I am no professional scientists, but.

[10:17] Definitely have a least 29 plus years of experience doing that.

Many times I talked to the people. It still is hard, it's and it puts you in a space that makes you feel vulnerable.

[10:29] So that's a little bit scary, a little bit open to whatever kind of critique or criticism, and that's not always fun.

So I think that also makes it hard too. Did I answer your question?

Yeah, I think it's hard to put a name on some of the craziness that we feel inside.

Like sometimes I'm like getting frustrated for some some no crazy reason at all.

And I Mom, you ask me, Is there anything I can do to help you want to talk about it?

What are you feeling inside? And I'm like, I don't know.

[11:08] I don't know. Just feels crazy, though, right? Yeah, it's frustrating because sometimes, like Nikita says in her book, you could be feeling all kinds of things at the same time.

That don't seem like they make sense together like nervous but excited and joyful and then, like oh yeah, like scared and anxious and fearful.

Sometimes when they layer the emotions that makes it like a giant cake that you can't just eaten one bite.

Totally. Eso a really great example.

It's a metaphor. Yes, it is good one on that. I really like that.

Well, what do you think about emotions and how can they change when we talk about them in your 30 almost years of experience? Nikita, I think, change.

Ah, lot based on so many factors, because emotions are technically a biological response.

Did the things that we experience, but in release simpler terms.

It's how the world inside of us is responding to the world that were around in the world that we're involving ourselves in so.

[12:20] Our emotions are going to change with different environments that we're in with different life challenges and different life developments that we have.

[12:29] Teenage Nikita was definitely a lot more angry and frustrated with so many things that felt,

out of control compared to adult Nikita, who may still feel frustrated but has a little bit more peace of mind or joy and understanding what experiencing the world around her because,

she has gone through a couple of different events.

That is given her some understanding but also taught her how to listen to the emotions a little better.

These things are always going to change. There's so many things we're gonna experience in life, even in our young life that we experience or that we feel that we go through that we just can't ever predict.

So it just makes sense that our emotions are going to change all the time.

But what is great about that is that we learn all new, different levels, different depths, different widths of how our emotions are and how they can develop inside of us and in the world around us.

It's always going to change, but it's going to just make our world a lot more richer.

The world that we experience in the world inside of us.

[13:34] Oh, I love that. It's sort of like a farm.

[13:38] Yeah. The soil is richer. The plants grow taller when the soil is richer. Uh huh.

Keep it going, girl. I love I love these today.

Thank you, child. Shine your life. Yes, poet.

Alright, You're gonna be the next Amanda Gorman. You'll make me so proud.

Oh, yes, yes. This is definitely an Amanda Gorman, uh, support group. This is definitely Amanda Gorman. Stand account.

We love Amanda Gorman. Oh, my gosh. She is the joy of In the light of my days right now.

I cannot believe how much glory and and and how talk about a woman that can really shape words of emotion, right?

I mean, she was a great example of rocked me to tears every single time I hear her speak. So, um yes, shoutout. Amanda Gorman.

Get at us, girl. Come on. Our show One day we will bow down.

So you had a question here about how when they're feeling messy, right?

Yeah. What if we don't like our emotions or how we're feeling?

What are some ways we can change that?

That we don't keep business?

[14:53] Oh, yeah. That funky business. Yeah. When we get those funky emotions, I know when I get my funky emotions. It's really tough.

And nowadays, with the world outside feeling a lot different, feeling a little scary, feeling a little less in control, more out of control.

It's really tough to deal with these funky emotions because either they go away or sometimes they don't.

And sometimes they come back when you're not expecting them right and they're not always fun.

[15:22] Ah, lot of times I think it's helpful to ask a lot of questions.

[15:28] I am like, Why am I feeling this way? What do I feel?

Needs toe change to help me feel better?

And I also think about what kind of tools do I have to help my self get out of this weird, funky space?

Is it me physically removing myself that is making me feel this way that is making me feel upset or sad?

Or is it me taking time toe, explore myself within and ask myself some tough questions? Some what and why questions.

What is making me feel this weird emotion? Why do I feel this way every time this happens on? Sometimes it helps to talk it out.

Some people are fortunate enough to have therapists that help them work through those weird, funky emotions.

And sometimes it's just finding someone that you trust to sit and listen and to sit and be present.

But I think it's just always helpful whenever you do have those weird, funky emotions that you don't like to take a little bit of time.

[16:25] If you can to sit with them, try to understand it on try to find new tools and try and try again. If it doesn't work to get to a place that you really want. Thio.

It's always a process. Yeah, you even have asked and you did it just today You asked for some alone time, right?

So there's some simple things that you can ask for that if you realize that's what you need, Most of the grown ups in your life will do their best to respect that, especially if you're able to identify it.

Like I just need some chill out time. Maybe I just need some fresh air.

I just need to do some art or color or be with my pets, something cuddly.

You know something. So maybe some ways, like just from kids, you can change your emotions if you change your environment. Sometimes that helps change your mindset.

Does something cuddly include rocky and gizmo?

[17:23] Yes. Although there are a little cold and some would consider slimy or prickly those air Our dragon and snake pets. They're not so cuddly, but silo would cuddle them anyway.

S Oh, that is so cool.

I love that. Yes, that is definitely, definitely helpful.

Sometimes I have to put myself in time out where I know that I'm about to explode And I'm like, I need to get a snack and I need to chill out a favorite e. Need to slow with the volcano.

Yes. Slow the volcano. That's right. So we've got this other question here, and I think it's something you guys both share a passion about.

How can art shape our emotion? How can art shape our emotions?

Thank you so much for singing that answer. I'm singing that question. Sorry.

I think that was very beautiful. So I appreciate it as faras art helping shape our emotions.

[18:25] I think before I even start that the most important thing when it comes to assigning yourself the title as artist is understanding that you cannot make art for like years and still be an artist.

You can make art every day and still be an artist. Your heart can never see the light of a gallery, and you are still an artist.

It is definitely a way of expression, and it shouldn't be a put or couched in a definition that is so rigid, it is all about self expression.

So let's start there now that we've defined artist and art, which is subject to you or how you interpret it.

Our it definitely helps shape our emotions by creating a channel, right?

It's a tool. It's a platform. It's something that you can use to put your emotions into something.

[19:16] It doesn't always have to look the same every way that you use art to help shape your emotions. Sometimes it's an outlet for you. Toe.

Take a piece of canvas and slather it with paint and go Jackson Pollock crazy on it.

Sometimes it's you taking some clay and making this very interesting,

structure that may be a dinosaur, maybe a cat, depending on the angle that you have it on because you feel like you want to pour all of this love into this medium.

Art helps you express yourself in ways that words can't.

And it also helps shape emotions for you when you're not necessarily understanding how you're feeling.

But you want to explore in a way that maybe the words inside that you do have in your mind are not ableto teach you or show you or guide you.

[20:06] A canvas, a piece of clay, some origami paper.

Whatever you have in front of you can help you understand that a little more.

And maybe sometimes you just want to make something and put your emotions out there, and that's it. And that's fine.

Sometimes they even draw something on a piece of paper or trying to create something with some string and an egg carton.

[20:27] And I don't even know what I'm making. And I'm like, What the heck is this?

But it feels good anyway, right? Feels good and shift shift. Your vibe keeps you in flow. So you're feeling your best self, right?

Yeah, Well, I have one more question for you in honor of Black History Month.

[20:47] And as white girls, we are constantly trying Thio educate ourselves and our communities and our network and our audience as Thio any amazing women, but specifically black women that are making a difference.

And you have certainly left your mark on us. So thank you for standing in your power and sharing that light with us.

Who are some women? Some black women that are just really important or have become guides for you.

And you know don't need to necessarily be famous. It sounds like your mother was a great one.

Oh, gosh, Um, in the literary space, it's always Toni Morrison.

Um, Audrey Lorde. I love,

that those black women have taken the time to write love letters back to,

black women, black people in such beautiful language and such thoughtful ways that make me weep and that make me really challenge the way that I think about myself and how I experience the world.

Lorna Simpson is an amazing photographer who was like up there in the ranks of like Gordon Parks, and it's just has done such iconic work.

Beyonce, Of course, Andi. It's not just because of her being just like Beyonce, like being the celebrity celebrity e doing some important work.

She's doing important work, but most importantly, I deeply admire her work ethic. She.

[22:12] Learning about how she has taken her craft over decades of being in the industry and is always challenging herself like she is her own competition.

That is a benchmark that I strive to be at Thio make sure like I'm not focused on anyone else.

I'm focusing on bettering myself because I know that is what I need to be doing to make sure I get the best level of my work.

Um, and I don't know. I've met so many black women along the way.

I think I probably got a shot at, like every black woman that has gotten me to this point from friends and family, because I don't think I would be half a successful.

Has it not been for all black women in my walking life, from school to college, Thio even my involvement with like, church and even in the professional fields,

every black woman that is taking the time to pour into me?

It is It is on Lee, just me being successful that I say thank you and I pay it forward.

[23:09] They have done so much to make sure that they like water this flower to bloom as well. She has.

[23:13] That's beautiful. Well, thank you for sharing that with us and sharing your light with us.

Nikita, it was an honor to have you on our show today. Thank you for your time and for talking to Silent and I and two are friends listening.

You already know the deal with the kids book about, but catch Nikita Simpson's a book about emotions and colored in for yourself will be sure to drop a link in the show notes on.

Sure. You know, every copy looks different because they make it your own.

Make it your own color in your own emotions. Well, thanks again, Nikita. We look forward to continuing to watch a girl and, um and keeping in touch with you along the way.

Thanks for being with us. Thank you so much for having me. This was a joy and definitely a light in my morning.

And I cannot wait to tune in for future episodes to hear more people. That sounds like me, too.