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The Story of Taylor Swift: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers
Discover the life of Taylor Swift—a story about the power of words and being yourself for kids ages 6 to 9
Taylor Swift is one of the most famous musical artists in the world! Before she became a big star, she was a little girl who loved country music and writing stories. Explore how she went from growing up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania to being an international role model and the youngest person ever to win the Entertainer of the Year award.Independent reading—This Taylor Swift biography for kids is broken down into short chapters and simple language so young readers 6 to 9 can learn on their own.Critical thinking—Kids will learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Taylor’s life, and find definitions of new words, discussion questions, and more.A lasting legacy—Find out how Taylor's kindness, ambition, and talent for storytelling have made her an incredible figure in music and pop culture.How will Taylor's creativity and dedication inspire you?
Discover activists, artists, athletes, and more from across history with the rest of The Story Of series, including famous figures Simone Biles, Jane Goodall, Ella Fitzgerald, Audrey Hepburn, and Frida Kahlo.
Taylor Swift is one of the most famous musical artists in the world! Before she became a big star, she was a little girl who loved country music and writing stories. Explore how she went from growing up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania to being an international role model and the youngest person ever to win the Entertainer of the Year award.Independent reading—This Taylor Swift biography for kids is broken down into short chapters and simple language so young readers 6 to 9 can learn on their own.Critical thinking—Kids will learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Taylor’s life, and find definitions of new words, discussion questions, and more.A lasting legacy—Find out how Taylor's kindness, ambition, and talent for storytelling have made her an incredible figure in music and pop culture.How will Taylor's creativity and dedication inspire you?
Discover activists, artists, athletes, and more from across history with the rest of The Story Of series, including famous figures Simone Biles, Jane Goodall, Ella Fitzgerald, Audrey Hepburn, and Frida Kahlo.
- GenresNonfictionChildrens
64 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2024
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 10, 2024
i've read a lot of kids biographies about taylor swift, and i think this was the best one! really thoughtful and engaging questions in each chapter for kids of all backgrounds to connect with taylor's story! also loooooooved the art style, so fun!
October 30, 2024
Arc Review
Overall Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the perfect book for young Swifties and older ones if they’d like to read it too.
There were so many things about this book that I loved like the colour scheme/palette of the book all the colours worked well together and made the book good. I also loved the illustrations and pictures used and the cover of this book is perfect.
Here are some things I liked about this book like the font they used it was a good font easy to read. I liked all these little aspects like the think tank part, the quotes, the myths and facts included, the when? and where? of things, the quiz was a fun edition (I got a 9/10), and the our world (how Taylor’s accomplishments have shaped our world) was something I wasn’t expecting but enjoyed. Also nice touch with the glossary at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy of this book, I really enjoyed reading it.
Overall Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the perfect book for young Swifties and older ones if they’d like to read it too.
There were so many things about this book that I loved like the colour scheme/palette of the book all the colours worked well together and made the book good. I also loved the illustrations and pictures used and the cover of this book is perfect.
Here are some things I liked about this book like the font they used it was a good font easy to read. I liked all these little aspects like the think tank part, the quotes, the myths and facts included, the when? and where? of things, the quiz was a fun edition (I got a 9/10), and the our world (how Taylor’s accomplishments have shaped our world) was something I wasn’t expecting but enjoyed. Also nice touch with the glossary at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy of this book, I really enjoyed reading it.
June 20, 2025
The Story of Taylor Swift by Rachelle Burk
Rating: 5/5⭐️
Synopsis:
Taylor Swift is one of the most famous musical artists in the world! Before she became a big star, she was a little girl who loved country music and writing stories.
My Overall Thoughts:
When the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie released in theatres, I wanted to watch it and so I did with my girly. After we watched it, I became a fan of her and her music. It’s been almost 2 years since the movie came out and I loved watching it. I don’t remember if I liked listening to her music before to be honest when the The Eras Tour movie released. I probably did, but I don’t recall. I know this is only for young readers but I just had to read it as I am a fan of her. I really liked this story of Taylor Swift and the cute illustrations. I can call myself a Swiftie🩷 and I am super proud to be apart of the Swiftie community 🫶
Rating: 5/5⭐️
Synopsis:
Taylor Swift is one of the most famous musical artists in the world! Before she became a big star, she was a little girl who loved country music and writing stories.
My Overall Thoughts:
When the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie released in theatres, I wanted to watch it and so I did with my girly. After we watched it, I became a fan of her and her music. It’s been almost 2 years since the movie came out and I loved watching it. I don’t remember if I liked listening to her music before to be honest when the The Eras Tour movie released. I probably did, but I don’t recall. I know this is only for young readers but I just had to read it as I am a fan of her. I really liked this story of Taylor Swift and the cute illustrations. I can call myself a Swiftie🩷 and I am super proud to be apart of the Swiftie community 🫶
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August 30, 2024A fun little book for kids about Taylor Swift. The language should be easily understood and there is even a little glossary so kids should have no struggle with it. It also has fun illustrations (even though the style isnt my fav tbh) and a great build. I like that the focus is on her early years since young girls could maybe connect with her even more then reading this. I also appreciate the little thought provokers throughout and at the end.
May 20, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
While I think that Taylor Swift is an impressive young woman who writes an admirable song, I can't say I'm terribly interested in her work. She is, however, quite a force, and many of my students are VERY interested in anything related to this pop star. This book covers the basics; Taylor's early life starting in 1989, her learning guitar and writing songs from age 12, and her parents' support for her dreams that included moving to Nashville as a family and homeschooling her as she broke into the music industry. In 2009, she was named the Entertainer of the Year by the Country Music Association, and moved to New York City in 2014 to pursue more of a rock and pop music focus. She seems to produce albums at a decent pace; i.e. at the rate that everyone in the 1970s popped them out!
This is a colorful and informative book that includes a quiz at the end, timelines, and a glossary of words that appear in bold throughout the book. There aren't any photographs, but this would be a good choice for readers who haven't looked into their idol's background very deeply. It was fun to read, and even had some Myth or Fact nuggets strewn throughout the book.
I may break down and buy this for my middle school library; we'll get our money's worth out of it. But the people who should race out and buy a copy to keep are parents of fans. Sock the book away in a file cabinet or box; I would have loved finding a Dynamite magazine with the Bay City Rollers on the cover or a pristine version of (oh, no!) Tam Paton's biography in my father's papers!
While I think that Taylor Swift is an impressive young woman who writes an admirable song, I can't say I'm terribly interested in her work. She is, however, quite a force, and many of my students are VERY interested in anything related to this pop star. This book covers the basics; Taylor's early life starting in 1989, her learning guitar and writing songs from age 12, and her parents' support for her dreams that included moving to Nashville as a family and homeschooling her as she broke into the music industry. In 2009, she was named the Entertainer of the Year by the Country Music Association, and moved to New York City in 2014 to pursue more of a rock and pop music focus. She seems to produce albums at a decent pace; i.e. at the rate that everyone in the 1970s popped them out!
This is a colorful and informative book that includes a quiz at the end, timelines, and a glossary of words that appear in bold throughout the book. There aren't any photographs, but this would be a good choice for readers who haven't looked into their idol's background very deeply. It was fun to read, and even had some Myth or Fact nuggets strewn throughout the book.
I may break down and buy this for my middle school library; we'll get our money's worth out of it. But the people who should race out and buy a copy to keep are parents of fans. Sock the book away in a file cabinet or box; I would have loved finding a Dynamite magazine with the Bay City Rollers on the cover or a pristine version of (oh, no!) Tam Paton's biography in my father's papers!
August 14, 2024
This was so cute. The illustrations were sooooo pretty.
September 14, 2024
I purchased this book with the intent of placing it in my Little Free Library, but wanted to read it myself first because who doesn't love Taylor Swift? I didn't learn anything new while reading the book, but I did find the illustrations really cute and can see how much appeal it might have for young readers. I especially liked the little fan quiz at the end of the book and the glossary that explains music industry terms to kids who might not otherwise understand them yet. This book would be a great addition to any young fan's collection!
August 29, 2024
This this is the perfect biography/starter for any young reader interested in Swifts career and the illustrations were gorgeous 🤩
Thank you to NetGalley & Callisto Publishing for the arc of this book in exchange for my review.
Thank you to NetGalley & Callisto Publishing for the arc of this book in exchange for my review.
August 12, 2024
This is a quick, well-writt4en story of Taylor Swift's early years, rise to fame, and impact on the world. While long time fans may not find much new within, it's still a worthwhile read. It's use of graphics and repeated segments of, say, "Jump in the Think Tank" and "Myth-v-Fact" help set it apart from other similar books. While there are no photos, the illustrations are well done and highlight each section nicely. Having been a horse crazy girl, I particularly liked the one of Taylor and her brother riding together through the countryside. The color and graphics work well and as you read you'll notice some words in bold print. They can be found in the glossary at the end, a help to young readers.
I liked that the book didn't skip past the role Swift's parents played in her success. Let's face it, myths aside, no one really makes it all alone. Swift may have been remarkably talented as a child but without the support of her family, which was willing to pull up roots and leave what sounds like an idyllic home on a Christmas tree farm to move to Nashville, it would have probably been a longer, more difficult climb to the top. I also liked that the book offers thought questions to help young readers connect to the events in Swift's life.. I won't detail them, they're best read in context, but, for example, the acknowledgement that we all make mistakes but we can learn from them and move forward more confidently. Kindness is also emphasized, which I particularly liked. While not an avid Swiftie, I know how often she has faced unkind, even hateful forces, so this emphasis on kindness in the face of unkindness, let's say, is an important lesson readers can take from this book. In other words, the book doesn't stop with relating Taylor Swift's life story but used it to illustrate and guide others.
Bottom line, there's much to take in here, all worthwhile. Even long-time fans may benefit from the discussion questions interspersed throughout. Readers are encouraged to interact, albeit virtually, with the text, perhaps seeing beyond the surface to how Swift's role can guide them. That makes this book a winner to me. The "Our World" section may focus on Swift's impact on the world, for instance, but give us ideas on how we can emulate her and have a positive effect on the world about us, too. Finally, in addition to the glossary mentioned, there is also a bibliography at the end. My thanks to #CallistoPublishing for giving me an early peek at this look at Swift's life and all it involves. I've become a fan.
I liked that the book didn't skip past the role Swift's parents played in her success. Let's face it, myths aside, no one really makes it all alone. Swift may have been remarkably talented as a child but without the support of her family, which was willing to pull up roots and leave what sounds like an idyllic home on a Christmas tree farm to move to Nashville, it would have probably been a longer, more difficult climb to the top. I also liked that the book offers thought questions to help young readers connect to the events in Swift's life.. I won't detail them, they're best read in context, but, for example, the acknowledgement that we all make mistakes but we can learn from them and move forward more confidently. Kindness is also emphasized, which I particularly liked. While not an avid Swiftie, I know how often she has faced unkind, even hateful forces, so this emphasis on kindness in the face of unkindness, let's say, is an important lesson readers can take from this book. In other words, the book doesn't stop with relating Taylor Swift's life story but used it to illustrate and guide others.
Bottom line, there's much to take in here, all worthwhile. Even long-time fans may benefit from the discussion questions interspersed throughout. Readers are encouraged to interact, albeit virtually, with the text, perhaps seeing beyond the surface to how Swift's role can guide them. That makes this book a winner to me. The "Our World" section may focus on Swift's impact on the world, for instance, but give us ideas on how we can emulate her and have a positive effect on the world about us, too. Finally, in addition to the glossary mentioned, there is also a bibliography at the end. My thanks to #CallistoPublishing for giving me an early peek at this look at Swift's life and all it involves. I've become a fan.
August 10, 2024
This is a fantastic snapshot into the life of Taylor Swift written with language and in a style appropriate for the youngest Swifties to read. The book covers all of Swift’s major career milestones to date. It also paints a picture of Swift’s day to day life as both a child and an adult. The quiz at the end, as well as the infographics within the text, are very useful for students who want to use this book for school biography projects/reports. The “Jump in the Think Tank for More” questions are a nice touch and should most definitely be used by older students for school based assignments or as talking points for parents helping younger children learn about Swift. These questions take biographical content and ask readers to form relationships between the informative text and their own lives, text to self connection.
I like that the final chapter of content is about kindness. Kindness is a topic often overlooked in our busy world and however it can be brought to the forefront of children’s minds is a big win for me. The more kindness, the better. While I believe children will learn a lot about Swift from this well-written and informative biography, I perhaps equally hope the message of “spread kindness” is what they take away and they strive to emulate Swift’s compassion over her fame.
Thank you Callisto Publishing for sharing an advance reader’s copy with me and to Rachelle Burk for the excellent snapshot into the life and career of Taylor Swift.
I like that the final chapter of content is about kindness. Kindness is a topic often overlooked in our busy world and however it can be brought to the forefront of children’s minds is a big win for me. The more kindness, the better. While I believe children will learn a lot about Swift from this well-written and informative biography, I perhaps equally hope the message of “spread kindness” is what they take away and they strive to emulate Swift’s compassion over her fame.
Thank you Callisto Publishing for sharing an advance reader’s copy with me and to Rachelle Burk for the excellent snapshot into the life and career of Taylor Swift.
August 20, 2024
Do you know who Taylor Swift is? She is one of the most famous musical artist in the world. She was a little girl who loved country music. She wrote her own songs and sang them. You will learn how she went from growing up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania to being an international role model and the youngest person ever to win the Entertainer of the Year award..
The book is for kids age 6 to 9 years old. Hopefully this book will cause them to do independent reading. The chapters are short with simple language. The publisher thinks that it will create critical thinking too. Even though I did not fall into their age category for this book, I enjoyed reading and learning about Taylor Swift’s life. It is a good biography.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. My opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The book is for kids age 6 to 9 years old. Hopefully this book will cause them to do independent reading. The chapters are short with simple language. The publisher thinks that it will create critical thinking too. Even though I did not fall into their age category for this book, I enjoyed reading and learning about Taylor Swift’s life. It is a good biography.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. My opinions expressed are strictly my own.
August 29, 2025
A quick read. I didn't learn anything new personally, but I can see how this would be a good read to help inspire young girls (and boys) to follow their dreams. I do think there was a factual error as Taylor self wrote every song on the album Speak Now but not on Red and the story mentioned she wrote all for both albums. I like how the author didn't even name Kanye West when mentioning the 2009 incident. This book did speed through some of the more recent "eras" of Taylor's life and career, but I also understand this book can only be so long/in depth and still be a a good book for juveniles. A good intro to Taylor and hopefully a good inspiration for future Swifties.
August 22, 2024
A short biography of Taylor Swift, directed at younger readers with lovely realistic illustrations.
As a die-hard swiftie, I loved this! It’s a great way for young fans to learn about Taylor’s story, not just her rise to fame, but how her hard work and persistence led to her success in achieving her goals and dreams. The timeline diagrams and the little maps are informative and help to give perspective to the story. I also loved that there were inspirational quotes from Taylor included among the pages.
Thank you to NetGalley/the publisher/author for this eARC.
As a die-hard swiftie, I loved this! It’s a great way for young fans to learn about Taylor’s story, not just her rise to fame, but how her hard work and persistence led to her success in achieving her goals and dreams. The timeline diagrams and the little maps are informative and help to give perspective to the story. I also loved that there were inspirational quotes from Taylor included among the pages.
Thank you to NetGalley/the publisher/author for this eARC.
August 16, 2024
We were given a digital ARC to read, thanks to @netgalley and Callisto Publishing.
The story was great for kids 5-8 and very basic biographical information of Taylor Swift. The pictures are beautifully done and complement the story very well. Each of the books in this series all come with a quiz in the last chapter which my 5 year old LOVED. She was enamored with all of the pictures throughout the book as well.
A great addition to any Swiftie's book shelf.
The story was great for kids 5-8 and very basic biographical information of Taylor Swift. The pictures are beautifully done and complement the story very well. Each of the books in this series all come with a quiz in the last chapter which my 5 year old LOVED. She was enamored with all of the pictures throughout the book as well.
A great addition to any Swiftie's book shelf.
June 4, 2024
What a wonderful book! I enjoyed it not only as a Swifty, but also as an educator. The Jump in and Think really stood out. It’s so important to have young readers connect with the text on a personal level. The text features such as the Time Line and Myth vs Fact as added to the reading experience. This book is a must read for young fans.
May 7, 2025
Just finished reading this book — it’s super cute and great for young Swifties, but I definitely should’ve looked into it more before picking it up. Didn’t realize it was under 100 pages and for young readers. It breaks down Taylor’s journey in a fun, simple way with cute illustrations and little reflection questions. There is a 30 minute audiobook version too.
June 3, 2024
I love this book! The illustrations are very life-like. I like the questions posed throughout for the reader too. The book is very informative and factual. Kids will enjoy this book.
September 19, 2024
Loved this so much!
September 22, 2024
This is a well-written, age-appropriate chapter book biography for young fans.
October 31, 2024
This is such a fun book for young Swifties (also known as "Taylor Tots")!
I loved all the illustrations and found the content to be a really insightful overview of Taylor's incredible career. It's a great read for kids interested in singing or performing.
Definitely add this to your collection if you love Taylor, music, or biographies!
I loved all the illustrations and found the content to be a really insightful overview of Taylor's incredible career. It's a great read for kids interested in singing or performing.
Definitely add this to your collection if you love Taylor, music, or biographies!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews