Respect: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul

by Carole Boston Weatherford (Author) Frank Morrison (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

From a New York Times bestselling author and an acclaimed illustrator comes this vibrant portrait of Aretha Franklin that pays her the R-E-S-P-E-C-T this Queen of Soul deserves.

Aretha Franklin was born to sing. The daughter of a pastor and a gospel singer, her musical talent was clear from her earliest days in her father's Detroit church where her soaring voice spanned more than three octaves.

Her string of hit songs earned her the title "the Queen of Soul," multiple Grammy Awards, and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But Aretha didn't just raise her voice in song, she also spoke out against injustice and fought for civil rights.

This authoritative, rhythmic picture book biography will captivate young readers with Aretha's inspiring story.

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Hardcover
$18.99

Publishers Weekly

Riffing on the memorably sung spelling of Franklin's hit "Respect," each spread of this picture book biography pairs a single word with a rhyming couplet to trace the sweep of Franklin's life: "T-A-L-E-N-T/ Young Aretha's solos soar with artistry./ Her wise father senses his daughter's destiny." Though the rhymes skew pat ("Aretha's crowned as Queen of Soul, our own royalty./ She wins awards and accolades, and more than one degree"), Weatherford presents an overview of key moments in the notable singer's life, particularly her contributions to the civil rights movement. Morrison's rich illustrations use a stylized realism to depict Franklin's trajectory from preacher's daughter to beloved icon, building to the rapt faces of Barack and Michelle Obama watching as Franklin sings at the 2009 U.S. presidential inauguration. Back matter includes a list of Franklin's hit songs and a detailed biography. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

PreS-Gr 3—Weatherford, using rhyming couplets to explain important words from Aretha Franklin's life (Detroit, groove, proud, and humble) as she chronicles the Queen of Soul's childhood, her rising stardom, and her political activism. Readers who are craving in-depth details about Franklin can turn to the author's note or other sources, but this book is not a meticulous biography. Rather, Weatherford presents a powerful celebration of the legendary singer that offers snapshots of major life events. Morrison's colorful paintings pulse with energy, and every page is dynamic. The interplay between the deceptively simple narrative and Morrison's illustrations is pitch-perfect. For example, the pages for "Detroit" (the family moves from Memphis, TN) and "Strife" (Barbara Franklin leaves the family after her husband's infidelity) mirror each other to powerful effect: The family stands before a large tree to "put down roots" in each spread, but Barbara is absent in the artwork for "Strife." This beautiful picture book biography packs an emotional punch that is as compelling as the timeless songs that Franklin made famous. VERDICT Purchase this luscious, lyrical book for all nonfiction collections.—Jen McConnel, Queen's Univ., Ont.

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Weatherford presents an overview of key moments in the notable singer's life, particularly her contributions to the civil rights movement. Morrison's rich illustrations use a stylized realism to depict Franklin's trajectory from preacher's daughter to beloved icon."—Publishers Weekly
Carole Boston Weatherford
Carole Boston Weatherford, a two-time NAACP Image Award winner, is the author of the Newbery Honor Book Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom, as well as three Caldecott Honor Books, including Freedom in Congo Square and Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. She also wrote Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins. Born in Baltimore, she first encountered Elijah Cummings when he was president of the Monumental City Bar Association, an affiliate of the National Bar Association, for which she was publicist. Weatherford teaches at Fayetteville State University, in North Carolina.

Laura Freeman is a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honoree. Her work has been recognized with an NAACP Image Award, reached the New York Times bestseller List, and been honored by the Society of Illustrators, the Georgia Center for the Book, and in the annuals for Communication Arts and American Illustration. In addition to illustrating books, Laura's art can be found on a wide range of products, from dishes and textiles to greeting cards, and her editorial images are frequently seen in the New York Times and other periodicals. She invites you to visit her website, LFreemanArt.com, to discover more about her.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781534452282
Lexile Measure
830
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date
August 25, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF018010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JNF007040 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Music
JNF025210 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | United States/20th Century
JNF007060 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Performing Arts
Library of Congress categories
United States
Singers
African American singers
Franklin, Aretha
Soul musicians
Coretta Scott King Book Award
Winner

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