Rock, Rosetta, Rock! Roll, Rosetta, Roll!

"A profile as bold and vivacious as the singer herself." — Kirkus Reviews ( s tarred review) " Terrific for all collections that want to inspire the musically inclined and highlight innovative pioneers." — ALA Booklist (starred review) "Bolden uses alliteration, assonance, repetition, and rhythm to create an irresistibly musical text that effectively communicates the feel of Tharpe's music. Christie's lively illustrations. . . capture the physicality of Tharpe's performance style and the intensity of her sound." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Impressive offering about an often-overlooked figure in American music." — The Horn Book (starred review) “The marriage of Bolden’s words and Christie’s pictures is almost as satisfying as Tharpe’s songs.” — New York Times Book Review Perfect for fans of Trombone Shorty and Ada’s Violin ! Award-winning author Tonya Bolden and acclaimed illustrator R. Gregory Christie deliver an inspiring true story about the life, career, and impact of twentieth-century blues and gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who was a trailblazer for rock-and-roll. Includes a timeline of Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s life, an author’s note, and a list of sources. Before there was Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Johnny Cash, there was Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The godmother of rock-and-roll started as a little girl from Arkansas with music in her air, in her hair, in her bones, wiggling her toes. With a big guitar in hand and a big voice in her soul, she grew into a rock-and-roll trailblazer in a time when women were rarely seen rocking out. Her guitar picking was like nobody else’s! Boogie along with this rockin’ tribute to the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Sister Rosetta Tharpe by Coretta Scott King Honor–winning author Tonya Bolden and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator R. Gregory Christie. A CCBC 2024 Choices for the Arts selection!