Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2018 Gr 1–4—This picture book biography of Bill Monroe introduces readers to the formative influences of his music and richly recalls the hills and mountain streams of his Kentucky upbringing. The writing uses imagery and a voice that evokes the oral storytelling tradition to great effect. It's not just that Rosenstock describes the rolling hills of Kentucky, it's the way she uses language to lovingly speak of the land, its people, and the region using dialect and vocabulary that Monroe or any of his loved ones might if they were telling this story. The author adeptly and squarely aims this book at the intended audience by highlighting details young readers can connect with, such as Monroe being the youngest of eight children and growing up with a left eye that turned inward (esotropia). In both the narrative and the back matter, readers witness Monroe's trials with his eyesight and his resulting development of a fine-tuned sense of hearing which helps him make a big impression on the music world. The digital illustrations are vibrant with a retro feel. Natural elements ranging from trees to blue skies and animals are the most dominant images and complement the imagery of Monroe's music. The back matter provides a more in-depth look at the life and career of the musician and includes black-and-white photographs of his family and his band, quotes, and a bibliography. VERDICT A highly recommended purchase for most libraries, especially those in Kentucky and the surrounding states where the music was born, and in any collections looking to bolster their juvenile biography section.—Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 02/01/2018 The youngest of eight kids on a Kentucky farm, Bill Monroe heard plenty of music played and sung when the day’s work was done, from jigs to hymns to ballads. After his parents died, he took his mandolin and moved in with Uncle Pen, a fiddler who taught him to play at local dances. Later, Monroe played in his brothers’ band before leaving to create his own distinctive style of music, singing and playing with the band he formed, Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. There was no bluegrass music before Bill Monroe. The book’s information-packed, appended note calls that style “a sped-up combination of Scots-Irish fiddle tunes, country string band music, gospel, blues, and jazz.” The creative text traces his life story while imagining sounds (a rushing stream, a bird’s call, a blues guitar) he might have heard in his youth and later made part of his music. Fotheringham’s inventive, digital artwork strikes a playful note, though it has elements of sadness as well. A spirited picture book introducing the “Father of Bluegrass Music.” - Copyright 2018 Booklist.