A San Francisco Chronicle Holiday Book Gift Guide Selection
A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year
“* Evocative photo-and-oil-paint collages and a narrative that reads like a series of bluesy prose poems distinguish the late Christensen's atmospheric study of the early life of Elvis Presley.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“* An excellent addition to biography collections, and a superb way to introduce the history of rock to a new generation.” —Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal
“* The early life of Elvis Presley is presented here in lyrical, yet sometimes sharp-edged prose that brings the singer close.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Christensen's photo-collage and mixed-media illustrations have just the right touch of folksiness for the subject. . .Christensen wisely focuses on Elvis's childhood and pre-fame years, before the comeback specials and gold-trimmed leisure suits; many young readers will relate to Elvis's unwavering focus on music” —Sam Bloom, The Horn Book
“In the intimate, affectionate voice of a neighbor or acquaintance who might have "known him when," Christensen traces the early years of Elvis Presley . . .viewers get their first true glimpse of the rising star.” —The Bulletin
“* In addition to being a useful resource for biography reports, the story of Warhol's artistic triumphs despite his social difficulties will prove inspirational for young readers who feel as if they don't quite fit in.” —School Library Journal, starred review on Fabulous
“A vital and exciting child-appropriate introduction to an American icon.” —Kirkus Reviews on Fabulous
“* Evocative photo-and-oil-paint collages and a narrative that reads like a series of bluesy prose poems distinguish the late Christensen's atmospheric study of the early life of Elvis Presley.” —Publishers Weekly on Fabulous
“* Christensen completes the tale of the guitarist's success with an author's note, a brief paragraph on the Roma people, and a bibliography/discography. She includes enough detail to give perspective, but it is her lush paintings that so effectively give life to the man's effervescent charm and determined courage.” —School Library Journal, starred review on Django
“* Christensen supports the inspirational story with rich, vibrant paintings that capture the texture and tone of the landscapes in Django's life: burnt oranges and various shades of brown bring the Gypsy campfires to vivid life, while bright blues shimmering under the sharp yellows of stage footlights depict the electricity of the guitarist in performance.” —Booklist, starred review on Django
★ 03/01/2015
Gr 2–5—The King may be gone, but this gorgeous picture book biography ensures that he won't be forgotten. With this enchanting and intimate glimpse at a beloved icon, Christensen takes legendary singer Elvis Presley from a child growing up in Mississippi and Tennessee to a young man cutting his first record and taking his first steps into the limelight. The portrait of Presley that emerges will be new to most readers, adult or child. Far from the strutting, hip-swiveling crooner of the stage and big screen, Presley comes across as shy and earnest, a sweetly baby-faced youth. Christensen deftly conveys her subject's vulnerability through softly rendered oil paintings. The inspired choice to use photocollage for the backgrounds imbues the singer's hardscrabble early years with tenderness, suggesting the nostalgia-tinged look of a 1940s postcard. Written in verse, the text is stripped down; refreshingly free of artifice, it's as soulful as one of the many songs the singer performed. The author touches briefly upon Presley's role in introducing R&B music to white audiences, dropping hints about how music performed by blacks was often dismissed as "race music," but educators may want to provide further context for young readers. Pair this outstanding title with G. Neri's Hello, I'm Johnny Cash (Candlewick, 2014) for an up-close look at the childhoods of two founders of rock and roll. VERDICT An excellent addition to biography collections, and a superb way to introduce the history of rock to a new generation.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal
2015-01-10
Brief poems present the childhood and youth of the King of rock 'n' roll.Readers learn immediately that Elvis grew up in another time: "Things were different back then. / One door for blacks, another for whites." Free verse describes how Elvis lived a tough life and soaked up the music that was all around him—gospel, country, blues. His family was poor and moved often. A shy kid, Elvis found his voice through music, first at church, then at a talent show and later as a recording artist. Once he began working with Sam Phillips of Sun Records and his version of "That's All Right" hit the radio, there was no turning back; he was on the road to becoming a legend. Christensen lauds Elvis as a musical hero, the pioneer who bridged the worlds of black and white music. It is interesting to note, however, that African-Americans appear only on a single page, in photographs on the walls of the recording studio. Christensen's technique, painting on scanned photographs, helps tell the story by creating distinctive images that feel like glimpses back in time. The flow of the presentation is occasionally interrupted by the switch between single-page illustrations and double-page spreads. Despite some missteps, adult Elvis fans will be thrilled to share this book with children. (author's note, timeline) (Picture book/biography. 6-11)
