Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Makes It Big

by Dolly Parton (Author) MacKenzie Haley (Illustrator)

Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Makes It Big
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

From the legendary Dolly Parton comes a story about her god-dog and Instagram personality, Billy the Kid, who is hoping to make it big as a country music star in Nashville, Tennessee.

French bulldog Billy the Kid was born with an ear for music. And not just any music. He loves barking to the beat of country music! So Billy sets out to Nashville to sing his heart out. But when he meets some big bullies at the Battle of the Bow-wows, Billy worries he's barking up the wrong tree. He'll need his favorite songs ("Jowlene" and "I Will Pawlways Love You," of course), a group of scrappy new friends, and his favorite country music star to regain self-confidence and be the star he always knew he could be.

Written by Dolly Parton with Erica S. Perl and illustrated by MacKenzie Haley, this is a delightful picture book about standing up to people (and dogs) who put you down and finding the drive to achieve your dreams.

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Hardcover
$19.99

Publishers Weekly

With Perl, Parton expands her song "Makin' Fun Ain't Funny" into a bighearted anti-bullying fable starring a French bulldog with big dreams. "Born with an ear for music," hound Billy the Kid heads to Nashville to pursue dreams of joining a country music band. Despite months "wishing, hoping, and practicing," an encounter with dog musician Big Earl soon leaves Billy discouraged ("It had been a ruff day"). But Billy finally makes it to the Battle of the Bow-Wows after joining a band of small dogs, and when Big Earl starts picking on someone else, the puptagonist hatches a plan to defend his friends so they can give a "totally pawsome" performance. Warm pastel-hued rainbows carry musical notes throughout Haley's images of cartoon pooches in a message-driven story that includes plenty of Easter eggs for Dolly fans. Lyrics to "Makin' Fun Ain't Funny" conclude. Ages 4-7. (Apr.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

A 2023 Good Housekeeping Best Kid's Book of the Year Nominee

"Music takes center stage and bullies get properly pun-ished in this hearty and wholesome howl."—Kirkus Reviews

"With Perl, Parton expands her song "Makin' Fun Ain't Funny" into a bighearted anti-bullying fable starring a French bulldog with big dreams. Warm pastel-hued rainbows carry musical notes throughout Haley's images of cartoon pooches in a message-driven story that includes plenty of Easter eggs for Dolly fans. Lyrics to "Makin' Fun Ain't Funny" conclude." —Publishers Weekly

"The queen of country music (and an early childhood literacy advocate) crafts a howling tale about her beloved "god-dog" Billy, who follows his musical dreams even when things get, well, ruff. . .its clear anti-bullying message is told in the context of a charming story." —Good Housekeeping
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is the most honored and revered female singer-songwriter of all time. She has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, has a record-breaking 28 songs which have reached #1 on Billboard charts, and hundreds of awards across her career. To date, Parton has donated over 200 million books to children around the world with her Imagination Library and has authored successful books for children and adults. From her "Coat of Many Colors" while working "9 to 5," no dream is too big and no mountain too high for the country girl who turned the world into her stage.

Erica S. Perl is the author of many popular children's books, including The Three Little Guinea Pigs (illustrated by Amy Young), When Carrot Met Cookie (illustrated by Jonathan Fenske), and Truth or Lie: Dogs! (illustrated by Michael Slack) Erica lives in Washington, D.C., and her family includes two rescue dogs, Clover and Penny. Visit her at ericaperl.com.

MacKenzie Haley is an illustrator whose books include The Ninja Club Sleepover, Pegasisters Go to Camp, and Snitchy Witch, among others. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration from the University of Dayton and currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky. Learn more at mackenziehaley.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593661574
Lexile Measure
540
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Publication date
April 25, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV002070 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dogs
JUV023000 - Juvenile Fiction | Lifestyles | City & Town Life
JUV031040 - Juvenile Fiction | Performing Arts | Music
JUV024000 - Juvenile Fiction | Lifestyles | Country Life
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Dogs
Self-confidence
Picture books
Bullying
Bullies
Country music
Nashville (Tenn.)
Bullies and bullying

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