Book Cover

Ordinary Days: The Seeds, Sound, and City That Grew Prince Rogers Nelson

Contributor(s): Joy, Angela (Author), Alcántara, Jacqueline (Illustrator)

ISBN: 9781250797032

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Hardcover
$19.99
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Pub Date: October 24, 2023

Dewey: B

LCCN: 2022920829

Lexile Code: 0690

Features: Illustrated, Price on Product

Target Age Group: 05 to 08

Physical Info: 0.50" H x 10.10" L x 10.20" W ( 1.00 lbs) 32 pages

Descriptions, Reviews, etc.

Description: "Before he became a legend, he was just a boy... On an ordinary day, you could see him. A young boy named Prince Rogers Nelson, who had parents who fought, nowhere to call home, and a collection of memories turned into sound: the shouts of anger, the purr of pigeons, the roar of cars down a busy Minneapolis street, and the whisper of cold wind on budding lilac bushes. Other sounds joined in as he taught himself to play the guitar, piano, drums, and much more, leading to the day this ordinary boy began to make music#21;and became extraordinary"--

Brief description: Angela Joy was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Before graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Minnesota, she attended New York University and Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia--where her heart will forever reside. Angela traveled abroad extensively as a background vocalist, also working in television and movie soundtracks. She currently lives in southern California with her husband and two children, writing from a small hallway desk where the walls are painted a royal shade of purple.

Review Quotes:

"This poetic picture-book biography is a sensitively expressed tribute... Through its compelling poetry, this poignant perspective on Prince's boyhood illuminates the moments that led an ordinary boy to become a musician of extraordinary accomplishments." --Booklist

"The rhythm of Joy's poetic text matches the rhythm of Prince's early life... [this] telling of Prince's childhood will resonate with young people who use art to find meaning in difficult days." --Horn Book

"[A] lyrical tribute to the groundbreaking Black musician." --Kirkus

"Via emotional verse and lavender-tinged spreads, Joy and Alcántra capture the life and artistry of Prince Rogers Nelson (1958-2016) in this evocative picture book." --Publishers Weekly

"In this visually gorgeous, poetic homage to Prince, readers are introduced to a brilliant musician who often drew on his painful early childhood as inspiration for his work... [T]his is a noteworthy, introductory look at a truly astonishing musician." --BCCB

"This is a bold biography, finding inspiration from the subject and universalizing Prince's creativity through a gentle approach. It's perfect for elementary schools, especially as applied to music and art." --School Library Journal

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