Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar: The Musical Story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Woman Who Invented Rock and Roll (Doubleday) by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow has received a starred review from Publishers Weekly! “The sounds of early 20th-century Cotton Plant, Ark., contribute to a child’s musical innovations in this sensory early life portrait of Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915–1973), godmother of rock and roll. When young Tharpe receives her first guitar, she resolves to create a story to tell at her church’s anniversary. Inspired by the sounds of her African American community as she practices (a sewing machine’s whirrrr, a rolling train’s gruumm), the girl works “to match the town’s song,” growing more confident until, at the anniversary, “the notes poured over the crowd like summer rain.” Final spreads note that as Tharpe’s unconventional style revolutionized popular music, she would continue telling stories of “the joy and trials/ of those who came before her./ … the story of her people” for more than 50 years as she traveled the globe. Framing the figure’s musical stylings as an outgrowth of community and place, Pinkney Barlow smartly uses lively onomatopoeia and crisp, textured collage art to layer the origins of the subject’s sound onto […]
Four Painted Words Artists have books on the 2023 ALSC Notable Books List! They are: Standing in the Need of a Prayer (Crown) by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison Killer Underwear Invasion! (Chronicle) by Elise Gravel Ivaliz Explains it All (Random House) by Andrea Beatriz Arango, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez Everything in its Place (Doubleday) by Pauline David-Sax, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow See the Complete List here
Ivaliz Explains it All (Random House) by Andrea Beatriz Arango, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez has been named a Newbery Honor book! In this timely and moving illustrated novel in verse, a preteen girl navigates seventh grade while facing mental health challenges. A hopeful, poetic story about learning to advocate for the help and understanding you deserve. Get the book here
Standing in the Need of a Prayer (Crown) by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison has won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award! This stunning and deeply moving picture book based on the popular spiritual from an award-winning author and critically acclaimed illustrator. The classic lyrics have been reworked to chronicle the milestones, struggles, tragedies, and triumphs of African American history. Congratulations Frank! Get the book here
The Northern Lights Book Awards have been announced, and three Painted Words artists are on the list. Our World is a Family (Sourcebooks Explore) by Miry Whitehill and Jennifer Jackson, illustrated by Nomar Perez is the winner of the Picture Book Non-Fiction category. Playtime for Restless Rascals (Sourcebook Jabberwocky) by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon is the winner of the Family Category, and A Prayer for Our Country (Zonderkidz) by Senate Chaplain Barry Black, illustrated by Kim Holt is the winner of the Religious/Spiritual category. See the full list here
