Blue Grass Boy

February 1, 2018

Gr 1-4-This picture book biography of Bill Monroe introduces readers to the formative influences of his music and richly recalls the hills and mountain streams of his Kentucky upbringing. The writing uses imagery and a voice that evokes the oral storytelling tradition to great effect. It's not just that Rosenstock describes the rolling hills of Kentucky, it's the way she uses language to lovingly speak of the land, its people, and the region using dialect and vocabulary that Monroe or any of his loved ones might if they were telling this story. The author adeptly and squarely aims this book at the intended audience by highlighting details young readers can connect with, such as Monroe being the youngest of eight children and growing up with a left eye that turned inward (esotropia). In both the narrative and the back matter, readers witness Monroe's trials with his eyesight and his resulting development of a fine-tuned sense of hearing which helps him make a big impression on the music world. The digital illustrations are vibrant with a retro feel. Natural elements ranging from trees to blue skies and animals are the most dominant images and complement the imagery of Monroe's music. The back matter provides a more in-depth look at the life and career of the musician and includes black-and-white photographs of his family and his band, quotes, and a bibliography. VERDICT A highly recommended purchase for most libraries, especially those in Kentucky and the surrounding states where the music was born, and in any collections looking to bolster their juvenile biography section.-Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2018
This picture book is both a biography of Bill Monroe and a history of bluegrass music, the genre he was instrumental in creating. While Monroe's childhood was beset with struggle--having crossed eyes and losing his mother at age 10--there were also times of great joy, such as the jamborees on the front porch of the family home. Singing and playing music brought comfort to young Bill. As an adolescent he played mandolin at country dances with his uncle Pen. Later, he moved to Chicago and played in a band with his brothers, all the while collecting the sounds of the various genres he encountered in the city. Text and illustrations both make note of the influence African-American musicians had on Monroe during this time; however, the lack of acknowledgement of the segregated conditions of both the music industry and Monroe's home state of Kentucky is a missed opportunity to place his story within its historical context. Eventually, Monroe established his own band, taking the original yet familiar sounds of bluegrass all across the country. The book's tone is nostalgic, with folksy narration and caricature-esque illustrations. Though this kitsch brings with it a certain appeal, it also unfortunately strips the book of the rugged emotion so characteristic of bluegrass music. An adequate tribute to an Americana icon and his musical legacy. (author's note, bibliography, song lyrics) (Picture book/biography. 5-9)

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February 1, 2018
Grades K-3 The youngest of eight kids on a Kentucky farm, Bill Monroe heard plenty of music played and sung when the day's work was done, from jigs to hymns to ballads. After his parents died, he took his mandolin and moved in with Uncle Pen, a fiddler who taught him to play at local dances. Later, Monroe played in his brothers' band before leaving to create his own distinctive style of music, singing and playing with the band he formed, Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. There was no bluegrass music before Bill Monroe. The book's information-packed, appended note calls that style a sped-up combination of Scots-Irish fiddle tunes, country string band music, gospel, blues, and jazz. The creative text traces his life story while imagining sounds (a rushing stream, a bird's call, a blues guitar) he might have heard in his youth and later made part of his music. Fotheringham's inventive, digital artwork strikes a playful note, though it has elements of sadness as well. A spirited picture book introducing the Father of Bluegrass Music. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

February 19, 2018
Rosenstock tells the story of bluegrass musician Bill Monroe, who found refuge from a sometimes painful childhood—he lost both of his parents and was ridiculed for having crossed eyes—through music. She describes the influences that Monroe would come to integrate into his music, including the blues, which he first hears from musician Arnold Shultz. Forming the Blue Grass Boys band and taking up the banjo, Monroe eventually finds a distinctive style, and Fotheringham’s high-energy digital art shows Monroe’s development from unhappy boy to confident performer with his band: “The music plowed through the radio, touching city folks missing the hills and hill folks left in the hollows.” As Monroe hits his musical stride, the spreads fill with inky blue, like a moonlit Kentucky night. Ages 9–12. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio.