RESPECT

May 15, 2020
The early beginnings and professional life of the prolific singer and activist are presented in this LP-shaped picture book. The text is presented in rhyming couplets, one per double-page spread, with a spelled-out lead word printed in block letters setting each one up. "B-L-E-S-S-E-D" leads off, and the titular "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" introduces the final couplet. The short stanzas move the book quickly from one point in Franklin's life to the next, hinting kaleidoscopically at who she was and why she was so important. Children with no previous familiarity with the subject will require context from caregivers to understand most points. (A narrative biographical note sums up the main points in the backmatter.) Weatherford acknowledges that Franklin's mother left the family when her preacher father was unfaithful: "Clarence and Barbara Franklin can't seem to agree. / Daddy wasn't faithful, so Mama chose to flee." The spread that includes this information is introduced with "S-T-R-I-F-E," and the illustration is almost identical to one seen earlier symbolically showing the family establishing roots in "D-E-T-R-O-I-T." Though Barbara is missing from the "S-T-R-I-F-E" illustration, Clarence wears the same grin, and the effect is unsettling. Overall, the striking, richly colored, painterly illustrations work well with the text and perform due homage to Franklin, but the story of Franklin's life is left wanting. The oversized, 11 1/4-inch-square trim fittingly accommodates its subject. Read as an ode to Aretha Franklin rather than as a true biography. (discography) (Picture book/biography. 5-8)

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July 13, 2020
Riffing on the memorably sung spelling of Franklin’s hit “Respect,” each spread of this picture book biography pairs a single word with a rhyming couplet to trace the sweep of Franklin’s life: “T-A-L-E-N-T/ Young Aretha’s solos soar with artistry./ Her wise father senses his daughter’s destiny.” Though the rhymes skew pat (“Aretha’s crowned as Queen of Soul, our own royalty./ She wins awards and accolades, and more than one degree”), Weatherford presents an overview of key moments in the notable singer’s life, particularly her contributions to the civil rights movement. Morrison’s rich illustrations use a stylized realism to depict Franklin’s trajectory from preacher’s daughter to beloved icon, building to the rapt faces of Barack and Michelle Obama watching as Franklin sings at the 2009 U.S. presidential inauguration. Back matter includes a list of Franklin’s hit songs and a detailed biography. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from August 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 3-Weatherford, using rhyming couplets to explain important words from Aretha Franklin's life (Detroit, groove, proud, and humble) as she chronicles the Queen of Soul's childhood, her rising stardom, and her political activism. Readers who are craving in-depth details about Franklin can turn to the author's note or other sources, but this book is not a meticulous biography. Rather, Weatherford presents a powerful celebration of the legendary singer that offers snapshots of major life events. Morrison's colorful paintings pulse with energy, and every page is dynamic. The interplay between the deceptively simple narrative and Morrison's illustrations is pitch-perfect. For example, the pages for "Detroit" (the family moves from Memphis, TN) and "Strife" (Barbara Franklin leaves the family after her husband's infidelity) mirror each other to powerful effect: The family stands before a large tree to "put down roots" in each spread, but Barbara is absent in the artwork for "Strife." This beautiful picture book biography packs an emotional punch that is as compelling as the timeless songs that Franklin made famous. VERDICT Purchase this luscious, lyrical book for all nonfiction collections.-Jen McConnel, Queen's Univ., Ont.

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2020
Grades K-2 *Starred Review* The award-winning author-illustrator team of Weatherford and Morrison (The Roots of Rap, 2019) have taken on the life story of the Queen of Soul, and the result is a beautiful work of art. Weatherford employs a minimal, lyrical text of rhyming couplets that is evocative of Respect, Franklin's signature hit, with spelled-out words like B-L-E-S-S-E-D and G-R-O-O-V-E heading every spread. Morrison's soulful oil paintings are expressive of the spirituality that enveloped the singer's youth, centered around church. They also convey the turmoil of periods like the civil rights movement, in which Franklin played a part. Her childhood wasn't easy. She moved from Memphis to Detroit, and her mother left the family after her father, a preacher and activist, was unfaithful. But Franklin's powerful voice catapulted her to record deals in her teens and then to chart-topping hits. She became a fixture in the most significant events of her time, with concerts gracing marches for racial equality in the 1960s and Barack Obama's inauguration as the first Black president. Young readers will take away the full arc of Franklin's story, from child prodigy to talented artist to icon, and how it comes full circle, because after all the accolades and influence, in the end, Franklin is a down-to-earth Detroit woman known as Ree-Ree.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)