Mother and son, Nadine and Andrew Burton, are taking the next step in a twenty-plus-year journey that started with Andrew inspiring an improvement theme and a book about imagination and now having him act as the illustrator for the children’s book.
Nationwide — The story started a little over twenty years ago. Nadine Owens Burton was driving home after picking up her young son Andrew from preschool. During the ride home, as they often did, they discussed Andrew’s day. Out of nowhere, Andrew asked his mother an unusual question: “What color is my imagination?”
Being a Head Start Director at the time, and having spent most of her career in education, Ms. Owens Burton knew better than to tell him what color his imagination was, so she said, “I don’t know, honey. What color do you think your imagination is?” Andrew answered with the conviction of a four-year-old, “My imagination is purple!”
That conversation inspired Ms. Owens Burton to do a deep dive into color symbolism, imagination, and creativity, and how we as adults engage in problem-solving. That research and study resulted in an inspirational speech entitled What Color Is Your Imagination? for her team of early education and school readiness professionals at her Head Start program’s All Staff meeting.
Then in 2019, after more than a decade of elaborating on the theme and presenting it as workshops and keynotes to a variety of organizations, she put the lessons into a book. Now, seven years after the publication of the book for grownups, Ms. Owens Burton is now collaborating with the young man who inspired the original theme in the creation of a children’s version of the book. Her now-adult son Andrew is the illustrator for What Color Is Your Imagination? For Kids, published through BookBaby.
“When my mom approached me with the offer of doing the artwork for the children’s version of What Color is Your Imagination? I was unsure given the unfamiliarity of the task, but I decided to accept the challenge. The process was not easy by any means, but in the end, I managed to use my skills to contribute to the creation of something great,” said Mr. Burton.
Ms. Owens Burton says she was “…excited about the possibility of collaborating with my son and of course, as a mother, encouraging him to use his talents in a way he might not have considered.” Mr. Burton showed the power of simple tools to create. As he has stated, “I didn’t need any expensive tools for this process. I made every piece of artwork in this book with a free to download art program and a computer mouse which you can buy at any store.”
For Ms. Owens Burton, the children’s book is more than a publishing milestone; it is a continuation of her lifelong commitment to education, leadership, and helping people recognize the value of their own ideas. This mother-and-son collaboration highlights how one childhood question can grow into a continuous, multigenerational conversation about creativity, confidence, and possibilities.
The book is published through BookBaby, and it is currently in pre-sale through the BookBaby BookShop for immediate print-on-demand and delivery, and pre-order through Amazon and other booksellers, with a release date of October 1, 2026.
About Nadine
Nadine Owens Burton is an educator, author, and speaker. Her message, What Color Is Your Imagination?, has inspired audiences to think differently about imagination as a tool for learning, problem-solving, and growth.
About Andrew
Andrew Burton is a Delaware-based artist, history enthusiast, and the illustrator of the children’s edition and the inspiration behind the original theme. His interest in art has led him to develop skills in digital artwork as well as other mediums.
For press inquiries, contact nburton@owensburton.net or (302) 449-2131