Elvis Is King!

October 1, 2018
From poor, blond boy to the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley lived the classic rags-to-riches storybook life.According to Winter's heightened, poetic narrative, "singing is the reason / Elvis was brought into this world" and became the means by which he transcended his impoverished beginnings. He grew up singing in church, at the county fair, in the classroom with the guitar his mama had bought him, and, after the family moved to Memphis, in the high school talent show. Dyeing his hair black and donning colorful outfits from secondhand stores, Elvis developed a "LOOK AT ME" persona and dreamed of becoming "the biggest star in the world." Stylized, information-packed narration broken into single-page "chapters" provides the platform for Red Nose Studio's (aka Chris Sickels) eye-grabbing art. Information included inside the book jacket shows how he builds small, theaterlike sets from cardboard, wire, fabric, and found objects and characters' heads out of polymer clay, then photographs them from various perspectives--from feet under a table in a diner to Elvis and his girlfriend sitting on a neon sign above the city. Illustrations reflect Elvis' segregated South, the white boy's African-American influences confined to one image of a black church and another of bluesmen on Beale Street. This story is all about his rise; the decline and ignominious end are omitted, even in the author's note.Readers will want to pore over this thoroughly engaging volume. (Picture book/biography. 5-10)

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November 5, 2018
This picture book biography from the duo behind Here Comes the Garbage Barge! conveys the story of Elvis Presley’s life, from crushing loneliness and poverty early on to his first #1 hit, “Heartbreak Hotel.” Reality and fantasy blend together in the cinematically styled and lit compositions: when young Presley first hears gospel music coming from a rural African-American church “on a dusty road,” the building seems to ascend to heaven on wings (an afterword delves further into his rise within the context of America’s racial history). Wire, clay, and cloth sculptures by Red Nose Studio find an ideal subject in Presley’s operatic emotions, jet black–dyed pompadour (depicted here in tidal wave proportions), and kinetic hip swiveling. Winter’s text reads like blank verse and matches the images’ emotional power on every page: “What would you do if you were just a poor country boy in the big city... What crazy plans might you concoct, lying in bed at night, listening to the freight trains passing by?”Ages 4–8.

December 1, 2018

Gr 3-5-Readers might know Elvis as the King of Rock and Roll, but will they know his dad spent 14 months in jail? Using short, titled stanzas, the author tells of Elvis's road to stardom, gracefully weaving together the highs and lows of a poor country boy rocketing to fame and riches. The illustrations were created using painted clay and repurposed objects and are almost more fascinating than the narrative. Each clay figurine expresses so much emotion-and no detail is left untouched. The cover gives some explanations regarding the art behind the illustrations and a video link will explain more for amazed and curious readers. An author's note that briefly discusses some cultural aspects of music at Elvis's time is included. This book has much to offer on many levels, from sparking curiosity through the original artwork to opening discussions about culture and music to providing a biographical view of an iconic musician. VERDICT Unique and artistic, this biography will not only entertain readers, but will also leave them with a deeper understanding of Elvis.-Emily Beasley, Omaha Public Schools

Key: * Excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject or in the same genre ] Tr Hardcover trade binding ] lib. ed. Publisher's library binding ] Board Board book ] pap. Paperback ] e eBook original ] BL Bilingual ] POP Popular Picks

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October 15, 2018
Grades 1-4 If the artwork in this seems a little in-your-face, it may be wise to remember that we're talking about the King here?a figure known for large gestures, not for subtlety. Red Nose Studio, known for dramatic 3-D illustrations constructed from polymer clay figures and hand-built sets, teams up with award-winning author Winter to bring readers a portrait of Elvis, from his hard-scrabble beginnings in Tupelo, Mississippi, to his transformation into one of the first rock stars. The narrative is at times scattered, but the writing shines when Winter vividly describes Elvis' idiosyncratic, hip-shaking delivery, as if imbued with Elvis' own frenetic charisma. Winter also does well to acknowledge Elvis' cross-cultural musical lineage and his roots in southern gospel music. Dusty rural backdrops, skeletal trees, and battered fabric set the scene for Elvis' youth; no less derelict is the southern cityscape where he gets his big break. At once fantastical and overwhelmingly lonely: such is the story of Elvis. Overall, a vivid and imaginative take on an often-told rock 'n' roll legend.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)