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Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar

The Musical Story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Woman Who Invented Rock and Roll

Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

Random House Children's Books · Print & ebook · February 28, 2023

A picture book biography of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the woman who invented rock and roll.

Biographies of Women for KidsMusicians' Lives for KidsRock Musichistory
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Who it’s for
A warm picture-book portrait brings Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s childhood music and lasting influence into view.
Themes
Music and creativity, Perseverance, Black music history
Genres
Musicians' Lives for Kids, Rock Music, Biographies of Women for Kids

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For older readers: Strange Fruit, Volume II, Warriors Don't Cry, Janis

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About this book

A picture book biography of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the woman who invented rock and roll. Author and illustrator Charnelle Pinkney Barlow imagines the childhood of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, whose rural roots inspired and helped create the music we still hear today. In this warm, inspiring tale, young readers will glimpse a life filled with music, community, and a drive to succeed.

Continue reading

"Music is the heart of our story," says Momma to young Rosetta, surprising her with her first guitar. Rosetta's strums sound like ker-plunks. But with practice and determination, she makes music, fingers hopping "like corn in a kettle," notes pouring over the church crowd "like summer rain washing the dust off a new day." Children will see Rosetta's dream become reality through hard work and perseverance. And they'll learn the overlooked story of a pioneering Black artist, whose contribution to music history is only now being discovered.

Music Takes Root

A warm picture-book portrait brings Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s childhood music and lasting influence into view.

Come here for

  • Vivid language that lets music ring on the page
  • A pioneering Black musician’s story for young readers

Expect

  • Music, community, practice, and perseverance
  • An inviting glimpse of Tharpe’s place in music history

Where it sits

Musicians' Lives for Kids93%
Rock Music36%
Biographies of Women for Kids33%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Biographies of Women for Kids
  • African American Life (U.S.)
  • Rock Music
Authors
Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Publisher
Random House Children's Books
Published
February 28, 2023
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Music and creativity · Perseverance · Black music history
Reading lane
Biographies of Women for Kids