Author Suzanne Slade has a way with picture book biographies, just look at some of her recent subjects - Katherine Johnson, Gwendolyn Brooks, June Alemida, and Jane Addams - to name a few. But this fall she has a book coming out that will be the delight of country music fans and residents of Tennessee, Dazzlin' Dolly! Throughout the book there are quotes from Dolly such as, "If you're gonna make a dream come true, you gotta work it. You can't just sit around." Those quotes help to bring Dolly's character to life for readers. The author also uses a writing style that works in familiar words and phrases from Dolly's mountain home: holler, plumb full, and tussle, for example. Readers will also come across locations from Dolly's life such as Knoxville and Nashville. The illustrator has done a wonderful job of including details that will be easily recognizable to Tennesseans like Miller's department store, the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, and the WIVK call-sign on the microphone Dolly sings into for her first radio performance. Back matter includes a two-page spread with "More about Dolly," a photo of Dolly from the time of her first gold album, a timeline, and a selected bibliography. Whether readers are musical fans or doing research into famous Tennesseans for a school project, they will come away with a better understanding of the obstacles and challenges that Dolly overcame to make her dreams come true.
I read an advance copy provided by the publisher for review purposes. The scheduled publication date is September 20, 2022 - so mark your calendars!
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