A Voice Named Aretha

by Katheryn Russell-Brown, Laura Freeman (Illustrations)

From acclaimed author and illustrator pairing comes a beautiful picture book biography about the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin and how she fought for respect throughout her life.

Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul, a legend. But before she became a star, she was a shy little girl with a voice so powerful it made people jump up, sway, and hum along.

Raised in a house full of talking and singing, Aretha learned the values that would carry her through life--from her church choir in Detroit to stages across the world. When she moved to New York City to start her career, it took years of hard work before she had a hit song. In the turbulent 1960s, she sang about "Respect" and refused to perform before segregated audiences. The first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Aretha always remembered who she was and where she came from.

In this stirring biography of a true artistic and social icon, award-winning creators Katheryn Russell-Brown and Laura Freeman show young readers how Aretha's talent, intelligence, and perseverance made her a star who will shine on for generations to come.

Acclaim for Little Melba and Her Big Trombone
2015 NAACP Image Award Nominee Outstanding Literary Work--Children
2015 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honor
2015 ALA Notable Children's Book
2015 Amelia Bloomer Project - Feminist Task Force
2015 Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction, Recommended Title

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Music, Nonfiction, Childrens, African American, History

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 7, 2020

Reviews

[ij · Rating 5 out of 5]

A picture book biography on Aretha Franklin written by Katheryn Russell-Brown and illustrated by Laura Freeman.

Aretha was the daughter of a famous preacher and grew up exposed to many famous black musicians and civil rights figures. She and her siblings sang in church all vying for their father's attention. Aretha always won out, small but with a big voice.

When she was ten (10) her mother died. She was heartbroken, but she persevered. A few months later standing on a chair behind the podium and sang her first solo before more than one thousand people. It was said that she got strength from her sadness. When she was twelve (12) she started to travel with her father's gospel ministry. At eighteen (18) her father took her to New York to seek advice and instruction from a famous voice coach. After listening to her the coach told father "I can't take your money." Aretha already had a style of her own.

Aretha went on to be an accomplished singer but there were many challenges along the way. This biography covers her career and awards. She was known as the "Queen of Soul."

Great book for children ages 4-8.

Black History Month Read

[Books on Stereo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and revelatory introduction to the queen of soul.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent picture book biography of the Queen of Soul following Aretha’s life from the time she was a shy little girl to the late years of her life when she was performing for presidents and known world-wide. We learn more about Aretha’s father, Reverend C. L. Franklin, about the famous visitors that frequented their home during Aretha’s childhood, and about the surprising death of Aretha’s mother before she turned 10. She climbed the ladder quickly, and by the age of eighteen she was ready to leave the nest and she signed with a record company shortly thereafter. It’s no surprise that Aretha refused to perform in spaces where Blacks were not allowed, and she had a good head for business (demanding to be paid in cash, up-front). Everyone was deeply moved by her music.

Aretha’s music didn’t just soothe her pin, it inspired black people, women, and people of all colors to stand up for justice.

In the back matter, there’s a two-paged detailed note sharing far more about Aretha’s life. Additionally, there’s an Author’s Note, an Illustrator’s Note, a list of songs by Aretha Franklin, and sources. The artwork for this book was created digitally with Photoshop.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!!

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aretha Franklin is one of my favorite singers of all time, and finding a beautiful biography about her life to share with elementary students has always been on my radar. A Voice Named Aretha tells her life story succinctly from her years as a young girl growing up in Detroit, where her famous preacher father entertained musicians and singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Martin Luther King Jr., etc. in their home. Growing up in a musical family her talent was recognized early. Although this is a picture book it shares lots of essential and intriguing information about Aretha such as her habit of wearing a long fur coat when she walked on to the stage, honoring famous singers of the past such as Mahalia Jackson. This passionate biography of the great gospel singer, Aretha Franklin with its dynamic colorful illustrations, will make a winning read aloud. The comprehensive and fascinating mini biography in the back makes this an excellent research tool as well. A Voice Named Aretha belongs in every elementary library.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Queen of Soul...

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stirring introduction to Aretha. From a shy child to a voice for civil rights and the women's movement, to the Queen of Soul and asked to sing at the inauguration of two Presidents. Also stood in for Pavarotti.

Back matter provides a little more depth.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This excellent biography captures Aretha Franklin's vitality and talent. Russell-Brown brings her joy of music alive as well as the courage Franklin displayed during the trying times she lived in. Student will appreciate her talent and committment. R-E-S-P-C-T is a message for all times.

[Shaunterria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated look at the life of the world-renowned Queen of Soul, a Voice Named Aretha is a sensational introduction to the artist’s life and body of work for young readers. Starting with Franklin’s beginnings as a choir member and soloist at her father’s church in Detroit, Russell-Brown (Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, 2014) highlights how a religious upbringing and ties to the burgeoning American Civil Rights Movement influenced her trajectory as a singer and an icon. While Franklin’s sadness over the loss of her mother is discussed, mention of Aretha’s depression, drug use, and marital woes are largely avoided. Thankfully, Freeman’s (Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, 2018) interpretations of Franklin’s various sartorial ensembles serve to move the story from decade to decade and will be instantly recognizable to fans. An excellent addition to children’s biography collections, pair with Harlem's Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills (Watson, 2012), Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker (Powell, 2014), and Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound (Davis Pinkney, 2015) for more tales of historical Black musical excellence.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Voice Named Aretha by Katheryn Russell-Brown, illustrated by Laura Freeman. NON-FICTION/PICTURE BOOK Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2020. $18. 9781681198507

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Aretha grew up in a home where her preacher father had a lot of connections with Civil Rights leaders. Aretha first started singing in church for her dad and her soulful sound was appreciated quickly. When Aretha got older, she started singing hit songs that gained national recognition and her music has given others strength and joy.

Aretha Franklin is amazing, and her music is powerful. This history helps provide a summary with illustrations of the impact her life has had made on her listeners. The illustrations are bold and bright, and the text is just enough information not to be overwhelming but to provide a good understanding of this talented woman. There is an author’s note at the end that provides a more in-depth explanations of her life.

Reviewer, C. Peterson
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Mollie Hennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Voice Named Aretha" by Katheryn Russell-Brown is an excellent biographical book that exposes students to a strong female, African American, musician named Aretha Franklin. This book follows the life of Ms. Franklin and how she became the amazing musical artist who sang the hit song, "Respect." The book begins by telling how Aretha found a love for singing in her church choir, and how she was always the loudest. Despite her energized singing voice, Aretha grew up as a very shy girl. The story continues to explain that her mother sadly passed away, whom she visited during the summers due to her parents being divorced. This lead to her singing her first solo in church, which really got her hooked on music and performing for people. At just 12 years old, Aretha could play or sing any tune back the way she heard it. As her life continues, Aretha moves to New York City and receives a record deal. The story includes many elements about how segregation and racial tensions affected Aretha and how she carried herself and fought for what was right. She only sang in front of audiences that were welcoming of all races. Despite how much the crowds loved her, her albums were not successful. As a result, she signs with a new label and releases a series of hit songs. This hard work is what made her be named the "Queen of Soul," and was ultimately voted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Throughout Aretha's life, she was able to fight for what was right and create beautiful music while doing it.

Katheryn Russell-Brown does an excellent job at telling Aretha's story, including many important details about race, what life was like in the 1960s, and how hard work can pay off in the long run. Many classroom activities can be created from this book. For a morning meeting style lesson, Aretha's character traits of perseverance, humbleness, confidence, etc. can be brought to light and discussed. The teacher would use this morning meeting to engage the students in a class wide discussion about these traits to instill some of them into the students. Many questions would be asked by and to the students to encourage them to use their critical thinking skills, while also relating their personal experiences to Aretha's life. Another classroom activity that could be created based on "A Voice Named Aretha" would be to read this book while learning about the Civil Rights Movement during social studies lessons. This book would encourage students to make connections and a writing assignment could be created where the students have to describe how Aretha left an impact on African Americans during this time. Overall, this book is mainly targeted for K-3, but when learning about the Civil Rights Movement with older grades like 4-6, this would absolutely be an appropriate book to read with students.

[Erin Ottavianelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biography "A Voice Named Aretha" by Katheryn Russell-Brown and illustrations by Laura Freeman is a great story about the Queen of Soul; Aretha Franklin. This picture book follows Aretha Franklin's life starting at how she used to grow up with musical stars coming to her house all the time and how she loved singing in the church choir with her siblings. They got involved in the church choir because her dad was Reverend at the local Baptist church and everybody knew from the start that Aretha had a special voice. We learn that eventually Aretha started traveling with her dad's traveling ministry so she could sing all over the country and then this soon turned into her performing all over the country with record labels. This book is a very informational, entertaining and uplifting book. The illustrations in it are also amazing. At the end of the book there is even a section that goes in a little more depth about Aretha Franklin and includes notes from the author and illustrator and a list of Aretha Franklin songs. It is an easy read that tells a great story of Aretha Franklin's life.

I think this book could be a good read aloud book for any age but personally I would probably read it in a 3rd-5th grade classroom because it could be a little long for the younger ages in regards to continuing to keep their attention. Since this book is perfect for a read aloud and is a biography there are so many great activities that can be done with it. The first I thought of was incorporating it into a Black History Month Activity. The book could be read to the whole class and then students could have to use their personal device to research one of Aretha Franklin's songs and share the background of that song. There could also be a lesson on segregation because the book mentioned how Aretha Franklin would not perform at venues that only allowed whites. Another great activity that could be implemented after the reading of this book is students would have to choose another famous African American that they have to research in order to write and illustrate a mini-biography about that person. This last activity would be a bit of a stretch but a mini lesson about respect could be implemented based off of Aretha Franklin's hit song "Respect". I think these activities and this book would be very beneficial as a read aloud for grades 3-5. The book is very engaging and makes the reader excited to learn all about Aretha Franklin.

[Laura Giessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book bio struck the difficult balance of having enough information and text, but not too much. The author includes interesting details about her childhood and her career, highlighting her raw talent, the emotional impact that her soulful singing had on people, her business savvy (e.g. payment due in cash before the show), and her commitment to civil rights (e.g. would only sing in venues open to all). Rough patches in her life were referred to--I could feel the pain when her mother left after her divorce, and then of course when she died when Aretha was just 10--but details were not given, which may be appropriate for most readers. The narrative rubbed me wrong in a few places--like that the Franklin kids wanted to "shine bright for daddy" and that "Aretha was the star child"--and seemed stilted in others. I needed more storytelling about how she came to be crowned "the Queen of Soul"--who did it, where, how? And why did the voice coach say "I can't take your money?" I honestly may have liked the back matter even more than the picture book--the note from the author had such voice (that seemed lacking in the text of the picture book). I also loved the note from the illustrator about how she chose royal colors--yellow/gold and purple--and hid crowns on several pages. There were illustrations of her unforgettable dresses and fur coats, and I loved the page with President Obama wiping a tear from his eye after hearing her performance at the Kennedy Center Honors (I believe). I love that a list of her most popular songs were listed...Off to listen to some now.

[Diane Wilkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am debating whether I need to own this children's book, and I am very torn. I am trying to get rid of physical books, not accrue more of them. But I remember seeing the author of this exquisite book on a television show when it was first published, and I wanted it then, and most recently I came across it at one of my e-Libraries. I took it out and read it in one sitting (hardly a challenge) and just fell more and more in love with the art.

But that's not the only reason I recommend this book so highly. There's a bibliography at the end that included several articles I hadn't read, and several books I did. There's also mention of an album of Aretha's that includes the songs she performed in her father's church at 14, which I chose to check out and found utterly amazing. What a voice! What a life! What an amazing woman! I also didn't know until I read the book that Aretha was given a Pulitzer posthumously for her body of work. Too bad she didn't get it (so deservedly) in her lifetime; she would have known to honor it appropriately. Russell-Brown is a historian and her historical perspective shines in this children's book. Everything about it is of the highest quality.

While not every part of Aretha's life is appropriate for a children's book, the author chose to focus on important things every child in America should know, and distilled her book accordingly.

I am, of course, an Aretha worshipper, and I cherish the times I had the opportunity to see her live. I haven't decided whether or not to buy it (the idea continues to percolate), but am grateful my library owned it. I plan to at least visit it often :)

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explore the life of one of the greatest singers of all time in this picture book biography of Aretha Franklin. Aretha grew up in a family filled with music and talking. She was a shy little girl, but even from a young age had an incredible singing voice. Her parents left one another when she was a child, and she lived with her father. She adored her time with her mother until her mother died when Aretha was 10. She used music to express her feelings, moving to New York City at age 18. It was the turbulent 1960s where clubs and venues were still segregated for the most part. Aretha made sure to not ever be tricked out of being paid as well as paying attention to venues where everyone was allowed. She was popular but all of her albums flopped until she made some of her most iconic songs and became the Queen of Soul.

Told in a warm and welcoming tone of someone sharing the life story of a beloved family member, this picture book biography captures the way so many people feel about Aretha Franklin and her joyous impact in their lives through her music. The text is accessible and shares the hardships of Franklin’s life and career, displaying her resilience in the face of disappointment as well as her savviness about business and civil rights. The digital art in the book is full of bright and deep colors that pop on the white backgrounds.

A grand picture book biography for the Queen of Soul. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Respect is my go to karaoke song, so when I stumbled upon this book, I knew I had to read it. I would like to add that I do not do the song justice; it just gets the crowd going lol. A Voice Named Aretha is a biography about Aretha Franklin's stardom. The story begins in Aretha Franklin's childhood in Detroit, where she and her siblings loved to belt out praises at church. Soon after, Aretha's parents got divorced, and her mother passed away. At only 10 years old, Aretha had her first solo at church, and that is when she learned that music was her calling in life. On top of singing, Aretha was also very talented on the piano. At age 18, Aretha had moved to New York City and signed with a record label. She refused to play at venues where the crowd was only white people. Her live shows were doing amazing, but the albums flopped, so she signed with a new record label, and her career really took off. Aretha went on to receive many awards and be recognized for her amazing music. 

I like that this book also touches on the social issues that were happening in the 1960s. I was surprised to learn that Aretha's family was close with Martin Luther King Jr. I had never known that before, but it was really interesting. I loved that the book added that she was the first woman to ever be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I have been before, and her exhibit was fantastic! 

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Music permeates every aspect of our lives. Daily there is a cadence and chorus of sounds. The hum of a furnace, air conditioner, a clothes or hair dryer, or a refrigerator inside our homes blend with the whistle of wind, birdsong, the howl of coyotes or the ringing of wind chimes. Reading or hearing a single word can add an entirely new series of notes to this familiar symphony.

Anyone who grows up near the Motor City and spends their life in Michigan has sung and danced to the music made by the Queen of Soul. All you have to do is hear her name and the sound of her voice singing the words of one of her songs will play in your mind all day long. A Voice Named Aretha (Bloomsbury Children's Books, January 7, 2020) written by Katheryn Russell-Brown with illustrations by Laura Freeman pays tribute to this extraordinary musician's life in memorable words and images.


My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A read-aloud-able, accessible introduction to the Queen of Soul. Doesn't ignore difficulties, but approaches them in a manageable way and sets up the reader for further conversation. Death of a parent, segregation, and marital difficulties are all touched on. Ample backmatter and author and illustrator notes round out the presentation of information.

The illustrations shine: bright and bold with ample and deliberate use of purple and gold to represent her as musical royalty. And of course, pairs delightfully with the HooplaDigital resources available at the library that feature a generous catalog of Aretha Franklin albums.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vibrant rich colors, chosen specifically to evoke Aretha's complex voice as the Queen of Soul, make this book attractive from the first page. Her early life as a performer in a charismatic preacher's family, where she learned to sing through strong emotion moves on to her career as a successful performer and later chart-breaker. I put on some of her songs to listen -- it seemed to fit.

The end pages are also interesting. A more detailed story of Aretha's life, then short essays by the writer and illustrator telling how Aretha's music influenced how they made the book. There's also notes for quotations and a source list.

[Jenn Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the endpapers (illustrations of Aretha Franklin vinyls) but the rest of the art wasn't really my thing.
This picture book biography strikes a good balance in terms of the amount of Aretha's story that we get. We hear about hard times she went through, and how she triumphed over them, but we aren't met with huge chunks of text on each page.
In the back, there is a more detailed biography for adults/older children, as well as a song list and some sources if you want to delver deeper into her life.

[Christina Potter Bieloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting picture book biography. I would have loved the inclusion of more personal stories about her childhood, but I did learn quite a lot about her life.

The illustrations are my favorite part of the book. They are so beautiful. I love the illustration of her dressed in yellow and singing for her church as a child. I also love the illustration of her singing for President Obama. Overall, it's a beautiful book!

[Lisa]

I hope this book can serve as a gateway or reinforcement of Franklin's music, but it had a "dancing about architecture" vibe to it. I was surprised at what was included in this book and what wasn't, but I guess I'm not too familiar with biographies for kids. The artwork was pretty nice, but didn't seem to represent Franklin's form, and the expressions of people in the background could be odd enough to distract the reader.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Aretha’s music didn’t just soothe her pain, it inspired black people, women, and people of all colors to stand up for justice.”

From a shy girl to the Queen of Soul, this is the story of a singer whose voice helped “make people feel good and to make the world a better place.” Her life wasn’t easy, losing her mother at an early age, but she allowed her music to help ease her pain. She was civic minded and generous of spirit.

Additional information is given in a note in the back.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I felt like this book was SUPER choppy. It had no real coherent "timeline" of her life. It was also very much just a surface look at her life. I think a picture book biography should do a good job of telling the person's story...especially important points in that person's life. This book fell flat in doing that. So, I think if you are looking to fill your library with more quality stories of historical figures of color (especially women of color), you should look elsewhere.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid picture book biography of Aretha Franklin, moving steadily through her life from her childhood through to her performance at President Obama's inauguration. This book focuses on Franklin's early loss of her mother and how that influenced her life and artistry later, as well as her incredible musical talent, including her ability to sing and play back songs by ear after hearing them only once.

Themes: Musicians and Artists, Black Girl Magic, Black History
Age range: Elementary

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful picture book biography of the Queen of Soul. It explores her childhood, early career, and success as a music legend. There is plenty of information to write a school report. Be sure to read the additional information and author notes at the end of the book. The illustrations are outstanding and bring the story to life. Highly recommended for Grades 3-5.

[Musiclib · Rating 3 out of 5]

This new picture book biography on the legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin was a bit of a mixed bag. The book didn't have as much biographical fact as I had hoped, but the illustrations are beautiful. I would purchase for collections with no other biographies of Franklin.

[Mary Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeously illustrated, well-researched book about an amazing person! It’s one I’d highly recommend for kids and adults. I love that it included a more detailed biography at the end, plus authors’ notes and references.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to the "Queen of Soul", Aretha Franklin. Learning about her childhood and upbringing definitely brings a new layer of understanding and appreciation to her music. Very interesting story.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I put on a soundtrack of Aretha while I read this book. It made it that much more fun. I love how bright and colorful the illustrations are, especially how Aretha is in yellow in almost every layout. She stands out on the pages, just like she stood out in her singing career.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice combination of words and pictures to introduce someone to the Queen of Soul. Ends with two pages of additional text and 2 photos with more background. List of her songs, notes, sources, and author and illustrator notes.