The praise keeps coming for Little Melba and her Big Trombone, written by Katheryn Russell-Brown and illustrated by Frank Morrison. A review by the Smithsonian BookDragon blog commented on the artwork, saying that “Morrison also knows how to add soul-soothing rhythm to the page: take that cover with young Melba barely grown enough to hold that instrument, then compare it to the final double-page spread in which an adult Melba takes the same leaned-waaay-back, feel-the-stirring-sounds stance decades later and wows a sold-out audience of thousands.”
Further praise comes from School Library Journal, where Little Melba was featured in an article entitled “A Trio of Trailblazing Performers.” In the review, SLJ says of Frank Morrison’s gorgeous artwork: “Frank Morrison’s vibrant oil paintings gleam with deep jewel tones, bold lines, and kinetic motion. Gracefully elongated figures provide a fine counterpoint to this performer and her often stretched-to-the-max slide, and a kaleidoscope of shifting perspectives keep Melba—and her music—center stage.”