From his childhood in the Jim Crow South to his triumphant reign as the King of Blues, Blues Boy tells the aspirational story of American music icon B.B. King. For readers of Trombone Shorty, When Marian Sang, and Drum Dream Girl. Includes a timeline, author’s note, and suggestions for reading and listening.
At twelve years old, Riley B. King borrowed fifteen dollars from his boss to buy a used guitar. Before long, he was playing his music for jubilant crowds all over the world. Blues Boy chronicles B. B. King’s inspiring journey from his childhood in the Jim Crow South to global stardom. It is a compelling biography about the widely known and celebrated American music figure as well as a beautifully illustrated picture book with themes of family, community, history, kindness, empathy, and justice.
Acclaimed author Alice Faye Duncan makes B.B. King’s story both accessible and inspiring for young readers. The text is sometimes uplifting and sometimes heart-wrenching, but always carries emotional depth, much like the music it celebrates. Illustrator and visual artist Carl Joe Williams provides artwork that is rich and distinctive, bringing B.B. King’s story to life on every page. Blues Boy will find a place on the shelf with books like Trombone Shorty and Radiant Child. Includes backmatter.---from the publisher
40 pages 978-0063334021 Ages 7-10
Keywords: biography, musician, African American and Black non-fiction, courage, perseverance, believing in yourself, 7 year old, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, diverse books
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Picture book biographies offer the information we want about people who are important to our lives and they often they offer a peek into the path forward that a person found for him or herself.
This book feels like friend is telling you about someone they really care about. It's almost like you're hearing a relative tell you about how it was for someone in your family to grow up, lose someone they loved, run away from a family situation that didn't feel like love and then good things started to happen.
Wouldn't you just love that story? What's really cool, is that this story is about a boy, who grew up to be a man, an African American man, whose talent and magic with playing the guitar ended up spreading around the world to raise hopes and sing a story of how someone knows you are out there and understands how you feel. You are not alone.
The illustrations carry that feeling of unseen connection and they never intrude they simply mirror the feelings of the moments.
This one holds your attention- it would be wonderful to read this in a classroom and to play one of B.B. King's songs before the story and one after the story.... how would the story change their understanding of the sounds they hear?
Stories matter. Music matters. Courage and perseverance matter.
Really stands out.
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
