DAZZLIN' DOLLY

A title brimming with love for a favorite country music star.

Given Dolly Parton’s philanthropic efforts with Imagination Library, it’s especially fitting to see her profiled by a writer and an illustrator who have ample experience creating picture-book biographies for young readers. Slade’s text includes quotes from Parton and adopts a down-home voice for the narration as she returns to Dolly’s Tennessee roots to tell her rags-to-riches coming-of-age story. Throughout, Fotheringham’s digital illustrations ground the text with a realistic style that never caricatures the singer, who has frequently been subjected to mockery over her appearance. While the book focuses mainly on Parton’s youth and the very beginnings of her career with her early radio performances and an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry at 13, backmatter gives more detail about her successes and discusses how Parton has used her fame and fortune to help others. Fotheringham incorporates symbols and motifs (butterflies and red shoes, for example) that are important to Parton’s career or figure prominently in her lyrics, which will delight those familiar with her catalog. Background characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A new generation will understand why we will always love this iconic singer/songwriter.