Review - Coat of Many Colors

Coat of Many Colors
by Dolly Parton
illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes
Date: 2016
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Dolly Parton lends the lyrics of her classic song "Coat of Many Colors" to this heartfelt picture book for young readers.

Country music legend Dolly Parton's rural upbringing in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee provides the backdrop for this special picture book. Using lyrics from her classic song "Coat of Many Colors," the book tells the story of a young girl in need of a warm winter coat. When her mother sews her a coat made of rags, the girl is mocked by classmates for being poor. But Parton's trademark positivity carries through to the end as the girl realizes that her coat was made with love "in every stitch." Beautiful illustrations pair with Parton's poetic lyrics in this heartfelt picture book sure to speak to all young readers.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a cute book, based on a song inspired by Dolly Parton's childhood, about bullying and being proud of the person you are.

I've only heard brief snippets of the song that this book is based on. So it was a little difficult for me to get the meter right as I was trying to read it. Those familiar with the song probably wouldn't have the same problem.

That's really my only complaint, though. The illustrations are adorable, and the message (about valuing what's really important to us, even if others don't agree) is great.

I'd recommend this one to readers looking for books about bullying, being yourself, and close family ties.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.57 out of 5

Review - Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara
illustrated by Daria Solak
Date: 2019
Publisher: Lincoln Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

New in the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Dolly Parton, the singer-songwriter and businesswoman.

Little Dolly grew up in Tennessee in a family "as poor as dirt." She started performing at an early age, singing on local radio and television. After graduating high school, she moved to Nashville to pursue her singing dreams. Her managers wanted her to sing pop, but she followed her heart to sing and write country songs. Her heart was right—Dolly became a musical superstar, but she never forgot where she came from. She now uses her wealth to give back to people, children, and animals in need. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the singer's life.

(synopsis from NetGalley; see it on Goodreads)

At this point, I think if one of these books had amazing illustrations, it would look totally out of place in the series!

That aside, I quite enjoyed this biographical picture book about Dolly Parton. It talks about her career, starting as a child, and her move to Nashville, her solo career, and her business endeavours. I hadn't heard of the Imagination Library, so I was pleased to learn that little factoid in reading the book.

The illustrations are probably the weakest part of this one. They're very rough, streaky, and not all that engaging. The red spots on everyone's cheeks remind me of pepperoni slices! There's a little butterfly that appears on every page, and I assume it has some significance, but nothing is mentioned in the text.

This isn't the best book in the series that I've read so far, but it's one of the better ones, despite the lacklustre illustrations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lincoln Children's Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5