Elvis

Starred review from February 16, 2015
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. After teaching himself guitar and moving to Memphis in 1948, a nerve-wracked Elvis leaves his shy childhood behind and finally gains attention in 1954 after performing “That’s All Right”— “ragged, raw Delta blues, with bits of country/ and moments of gospel”—at Sun Records. There’s a subdued energy to both Christensen’s writing and loose, sketchy artwork, one that conjures the simmering potential of a singer before he catapulted into fame. Ages 6–9. Agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt.

January 15, 2015
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)

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Starred review from March 1, 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

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 1, 2014
Grades 1-3 *Starred Review* The early life of Elvis Presley is presented here in lyrical yet sometimes sharp-edged prose that brings the singer close. This is an Elvis who is a shy, quiet, dreamy boy . . . tied to his mama's apron strings a poor boy surrounded by music: black gospel, blues, field songs, country, and pop. It was when he got to Memphis as a teen that he took a real hold of the music, and that's when he began to be noticed, especially by girls. Christensen does a particularly goodand pithyjob of explaining crossover music. Even though radio playlists and church choirs were separated into black and white, some people, like Sam Phillips of Sun Records, wanted to mix things up. Finally, a new kind of music was born. The vertical two-page spread of Elvis rocking out will grab kids, though some of the artsimple collage overlayed with oilshas a sketchier look. Be prepared to have some music and perhaps even a video of (the young) Elvis around to see what all the shouting and shaking was about. An author's note delves a little deeper into Elvis' career, and a time line covers events not mentioned in the text, such as Elvis' army career and his death.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)