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Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell: A Nonfiction Picture Book About the Folk Singer Who Painted With Words for Children
“Colors burst across each page, with layers of collage-work emphasizing the richness of Mitchell’s influences and imagination. Will speak to readers just starting their own exploration of artistic expression." — Booklist (starred review) Celebrate the captivating life of Joni Mitchell, the world-famous songbird who used her music to ignite and inspire an entire generation, in this stunning picture book biography from award-winning author and illustrator Selina Alko. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children. Joni Mitchell painted with words. Sitting at her piano or strumming the guitar, she turned the words into songs. The songs were like brushstrokes on a canvas, saying things that were not only happy or sad but true . But before composing more than two hundred songs, Joni was a young girl from a town on the Canadian prairie, where she learned to love dancing, painting, birdsong, and piano. As she grew up into an artist, Joni took her strong feelings—feelings of love and frustration, and the turbulence that came with being a young woman—and wrote them into vivid songs. Brought to life by Selina Alko’s rainbow collages and lyrical language, this heartfelt portrait of a feminist and folk icon is perfect for parents, children, and music lovers everywhere. Back matter includes a letter from the author and Joni’s full discography. “An inspired and creative ode to the inimitable Joni Mitchell.” — Kirkus “Layered mixed-media collages featuring cut paper, found images, and colorful smears of paint effectively evoke the richly rendered emotional landscapes of Mitchell’s songwriting.” — Publishers Weekly
48 pages, Hardcover
First published February 25, 2020
1 person is currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Selina Alko
28 books32 followersIt is no wonder that award-winning writer-illustrator Selina Alko now spends her days melding words and mixed-media art to convey stories of hope and inspiration—as well as an alternative viewpoint. Growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia with a Turkish Jewish father who spoke seven languages and taught painting, and a Jewish mother who worked in the family’s century-old metal recycling business, she was surrounded by the melody of words and stories from different places and varied visual possibilities.
When Selina was in elementary school her entire family would attend her father’s painting class where they learned about 19th Century Impressionists and German Expressionists and were asked to chose paintings and copy them using acrylics. Not only was this a fascinating art history lesson, but it also taught her about the emotional use of color and instilled in her a deep appreciation for painting.
Aside from art, Selina’s childhood was also filled with books; Richard Scarry, Curious George, and anything by Judy Blume were a few of her favorites, and summers were spent at a Jewish sleep-away camp where her social activist spirit was ignited—as well as a love of folk music.
The skills her parents imparted to her as a child, the creative environment that supported them, and the diverse worldview she was privy to, have inspired and fueled her ever since and are evident in her many children's books. Some of her award-winning books include: The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage, B is for Brooklyn, Daddy Christmas & Hanukkah Mama, I is for Immigrants, and Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell.
“Write what is closest to your heart. What do you care about? What excites you? What makes you feel sad?” said Selina when asked what advice she would give to an aspiring writer.
Now as the mother of two children, Selina looks to carry on some of the traditions that encouraged her talents and worldview by holding “family art nights.” Her son loves to create detailed, realistic drawings of rap and hip-hop artists; her daughter is more free form and uses bold colors and broad brush strokes to create her works. It fills Selina with pride and wonderment as her kids learn to express themselves and cultivate a love of art.
Selina continues to find inspiration in the world around her, whether it’s the streets of Brooklyn, where she has lived for more than 20 years, her native Canada, or the small but universal experiences of a child as she watches her kids grow up.
When she’s not working on a new project, Selina enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, collaging in her sketchbook, and dance-walking in Prospect Park.
When Selina was in elementary school her entire family would attend her father’s painting class where they learned about 19th Century Impressionists and German Expressionists and were asked to chose paintings and copy them using acrylics. Not only was this a fascinating art history lesson, but it also taught her about the emotional use of color and instilled in her a deep appreciation for painting.
Aside from art, Selina’s childhood was also filled with books; Richard Scarry, Curious George, and anything by Judy Blume were a few of her favorites, and summers were spent at a Jewish sleep-away camp where her social activist spirit was ignited—as well as a love of folk music.
The skills her parents imparted to her as a child, the creative environment that supported them, and the diverse worldview she was privy to, have inspired and fueled her ever since and are evident in her many children's books. Some of her award-winning books include: The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage, B is for Brooklyn, Daddy Christmas & Hanukkah Mama, I is for Immigrants, and Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell.
“Write what is closest to your heart. What do you care about? What excites you? What makes you feel sad?” said Selina when asked what advice she would give to an aspiring writer.
Now as the mother of two children, Selina looks to carry on some of the traditions that encouraged her talents and worldview by holding “family art nights.” Her son loves to create detailed, realistic drawings of rap and hip-hop artists; her daughter is more free form and uses bold colors and broad brush strokes to create her works. It fills Selina with pride and wonderment as her kids learn to express themselves and cultivate a love of art.
Selina continues to find inspiration in the world around her, whether it’s the streets of Brooklyn, where she has lived for more than 20 years, her native Canada, or the small but universal experiences of a child as she watches her kids grow up.
When she’s not working on a new project, Selina enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, collaging in her sketchbook, and dance-walking in Prospect Park.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 22, 2020
The illustrations were so amazing, but the writing fell short. It was an incomplete mix between biography and focus on her creative process. I finished feeling like I didn’t fully understand if/why her marriage ended or why she moved around. I think the story would have been sharper had they focused more on the events of her life OR her creative process.
July 6, 2020
Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell by Selina Alko PICTURE BOOK, BIOGRAPHY Harper Collins, 2020. $18. 9780062671295
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Joni Mitchell grew up in Canada and was a very artistic child, playing music and painting. Even a bout with polio didn't shut her down. As a young adult, she moved to Toronto and wrote music and sang in cafes. Eventually moving to New York, she started signing her own songs in Greenwich Village, then on to California. Her friends were the legends of folk music. She missed Woodstock but wrote a memorable song about it. Joni Mitchell did what she liked best, and she did it her way.
Selina Alko's picture book biography of Joni Mitchell is very nostalgic - I loved the lyric speech bubbles, the connection of certain songs to her life events and the collage illustrations particularly those of her contemporaries. The style of illustration suited the subject. I think adults who love Joni Mitchell will find this engaging - it's a great introduction to Mitchell for kids and references some of her most popular songs. Includes author's note, a bibliography and a discography.
Lisa Librarian
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Joni Mitchell grew up in Canada and was a very artistic child, playing music and painting. Even a bout with polio didn't shut her down. As a young adult, she moved to Toronto and wrote music and sang in cafes. Eventually moving to New York, she started signing her own songs in Greenwich Village, then on to California. Her friends were the legends of folk music. She missed Woodstock but wrote a memorable song about it. Joni Mitchell did what she liked best, and she did it her way.
Selina Alko's picture book biography of Joni Mitchell is very nostalgic - I loved the lyric speech bubbles, the connection of certain songs to her life events and the collage illustrations particularly those of her contemporaries. The style of illustration suited the subject. I think adults who love Joni Mitchell will find this engaging - it's a great introduction to Mitchell for kids and references some of her most popular songs. Includes author's note, a bibliography and a discography.
Lisa Librarian
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
September 29, 2020
Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Selina Alko. This biographical introduction to iconic songwriter Joni Mitchell traces the creative influences in her life.
Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Drawing from folk, pop, rock, and jazz, Mitchell's songs often reflect social and environmental ideals as well as her feelings about romance, confusion, disillusionment, and joy.
Alko's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. This loose biography of the legendary singer-songwriter centers on Mitchell's feelings while tying popular songs. Backmatter includes an author's note, discography, and bibliography. Layered mixed-media collages featuring cut paper, found images, and colorful smears of paint effectively evoke the richly rendered emotional landscapes of Mitchell's songwriting.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It follows Mitchell's life from her childhood in small-town Canada to her bout with polio and later relationships. Portrayals of her professional life also focus on her feelings.
All in all, Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell it is an inspired and creative ode to the inimitable Joni Mitchell.
Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Drawing from folk, pop, rock, and jazz, Mitchell's songs often reflect social and environmental ideals as well as her feelings about romance, confusion, disillusionment, and joy.
Alko's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. This loose biography of the legendary singer-songwriter centers on Mitchell's feelings while tying popular songs. Backmatter includes an author's note, discography, and bibliography. Layered mixed-media collages featuring cut paper, found images, and colorful smears of paint effectively evoke the richly rendered emotional landscapes of Mitchell's songwriting.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It follows Mitchell's life from her childhood in small-town Canada to her bout with polio and later relationships. Portrayals of her professional life also focus on her feelings.
All in all, Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell it is an inspired and creative ode to the inimitable Joni Mitchell.
November 19, 2019
ARC COpy...although I feel this a book more for the adults then the kids (unless adults plan to introduce her to kids via this book). The lyrical verse is beautiful though and the illustration had a bohemian style fitting for a singer like her.
January 30, 2021
Love the illustrations!
August 21, 2021
An exploration of singer and painter Joni Mitchell's artistic development through biography. The author's impressionistic illustrations reflect and include memorable lyrics from the canon. Heartfelt.
September 16, 2021
The author begins by writing “Joni Mitchell painted with words. . . . The songs were like brushstrokes on a canvas, saying things that were not only happy or sad but true.”
But before the songs, Alko writes, there was a restless and not always happy girl named Roberta Joan Anderson. Alko tells readers what this little girl was like and what happened during her life growing up in Canada, including a bout with polio.
As a young adult, Joni attended art school in Calgary, and immersed herself in “a world of coffeehouses and poetry and a captivating music scene.” She sang songs in the cafes, but at first, they were songs written by others. At age 21 she met Chuck Mitchell, married him and took his surname, and moved with him to Detroit. There she began performing her own songs for the first time. They divorced in 1967, and Joni moved to New York City. She played venues up and down the East Coast, performing frequently in coffeehouses and folk clubs. She became well known for her unique songwriting and her innovative guitar style.
She turned her thoughts and feelings into music. Even looking up at the clouds became the song “Both Sides Now” in 1968. Who hasn't gone up in an airplane for the first time and thought of her lyrics?
"I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's cloud's illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all. . . ."
In 1969, she did not perform at Woodstock, but wrote about it in the song “Woodstock” that became an iconic expression for a generation, along with her other big hits such as “Big Yellow Taxi.” In 2020, the New York Times chose her 1971 album "Blue" as one of the 25 albums that represented "turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century popular music." In 2020, Blue was rated third in Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time."
She told Rolling Stone Magazine in 1979:
“The Blue album, there’s hardly a dishonest note in the vocals. At that period of my life, I had no personal defenses. I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes. I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world, and I couldn’t pretend in my life to be strong. Or to be happy. But the advantage of it in the music was that there were no defenses there either.”
Fans will want to read the New York Times tribute to "Blue" on the 50th anniversary of the album, in which twenty-five musicians speak about the LP’s enduring power, here. Contributors include James Taylor, Rosanne Cash, Judy Collins, David Crosby, Bonnie Raitt, and more. The author of the article writes: "Half a century later, Mitchell’s “Blue” exists in that rarefied space beyond the influential or even the canonical. It is archetypal: The heroine’s journey that Joseph Campbell forgot to map out."
Joni Mitchell became famous, and traveled all over the U.S. and Europe, still expressing her feelings through music. She once said, “I sing my sorrow, and I paint my joy.”
Alko writes, “Her songs show us the way by telling us her truth. Truth gives us freedom. And freedom gives us wings to fly.
The book ends with an Author’s Note, a discography, and a biography.
The illustrations, also by Alko, are gorgeous creations in mixed media using acrylic paint, pencil sketches, collages, and ink stamps. Birds, flowers, musical notes, and lyric excerpts accent the double-page spreads.
Evaluation: This lovely story will appeal to readers whether they know who Joni Mitchell is or not; her childhood journey and turn to the arts to express herself are not only interesting but inspirational. Her music, including songs from the album Blue, are available on Youtube.
But before the songs, Alko writes, there was a restless and not always happy girl named Roberta Joan Anderson. Alko tells readers what this little girl was like and what happened during her life growing up in Canada, including a bout with polio.
As a young adult, Joni attended art school in Calgary, and immersed herself in “a world of coffeehouses and poetry and a captivating music scene.” She sang songs in the cafes, but at first, they were songs written by others. At age 21 she met Chuck Mitchell, married him and took his surname, and moved with him to Detroit. There she began performing her own songs for the first time. They divorced in 1967, and Joni moved to New York City. She played venues up and down the East Coast, performing frequently in coffeehouses and folk clubs. She became well known for her unique songwriting and her innovative guitar style.
She turned her thoughts and feelings into music. Even looking up at the clouds became the song “Both Sides Now” in 1968. Who hasn't gone up in an airplane for the first time and thought of her lyrics?
"I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's cloud's illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all. . . ."
In 1969, she did not perform at Woodstock, but wrote about it in the song “Woodstock” that became an iconic expression for a generation, along with her other big hits such as “Big Yellow Taxi.” In 2020, the New York Times chose her 1971 album "Blue" as one of the 25 albums that represented "turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century popular music." In 2020, Blue was rated third in Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time."
She told Rolling Stone Magazine in 1979:
“The Blue album, there’s hardly a dishonest note in the vocals. At that period of my life, I had no personal defenses. I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes. I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world, and I couldn’t pretend in my life to be strong. Or to be happy. But the advantage of it in the music was that there were no defenses there either.”
Fans will want to read the New York Times tribute to "Blue" on the 50th anniversary of the album, in which twenty-five musicians speak about the LP’s enduring power, here. Contributors include James Taylor, Rosanne Cash, Judy Collins, David Crosby, Bonnie Raitt, and more. The author of the article writes: "Half a century later, Mitchell’s “Blue” exists in that rarefied space beyond the influential or even the canonical. It is archetypal: The heroine’s journey that Joseph Campbell forgot to map out."
Joni Mitchell became famous, and traveled all over the U.S. and Europe, still expressing her feelings through music. She once said, “I sing my sorrow, and I paint my joy.”
Alko writes, “Her songs show us the way by telling us her truth. Truth gives us freedom. And freedom gives us wings to fly.
The book ends with an Author’s Note, a discography, and a biography.
The illustrations, also by Alko, are gorgeous creations in mixed media using acrylic paint, pencil sketches, collages, and ink stamps. Birds, flowers, musical notes, and lyric excerpts accent the double-page spreads.
Evaluation: This lovely story will appeal to readers whether they know who Joni Mitchell is or not; her childhood journey and turn to the arts to express herself are not only interesting but inspirational. Her music, including songs from the album Blue, are available on Youtube.
March 11, 2020
loosely written and factually robust, this picture book biography is perfect for aspiring young musicians (or any/all joni fans out there 🙋♀️). as in any good 32 page biography, the pictures contain a multitude of information. a few details pictured are: people - chuck mitchell, leonard cohen, mama cass…; places - canada, crete, chelsea...
alko’s bright and whimsical acrylic paintings are accompanied by collaged words, digitized objects, and a constant stream of hand painted lyrics. the tour de force is a spread on the final pages chronologically illustrating joni’s album covers (must have this framed 🙋♀️). in her author's note, alko beautifully explains her relationship with joni’s music - and how it evokes a rich sense of time and place for her.
it would be delightful for students/patrons/children to spend time, after reading this, drawing while listening to joni’s music.
if you enjoy alko’s style and want more picture book biographies, then try Two Friends (2016) or The Case for Loving (2015) - both of which she created with her husband sean qualls!
thanks harper kids for the review copy of this book; all opinions are my own.
alko’s bright and whimsical acrylic paintings are accompanied by collaged words, digitized objects, and a constant stream of hand painted lyrics. the tour de force is a spread on the final pages chronologically illustrating joni’s album covers (must have this framed 🙋♀️). in her author's note, alko beautifully explains her relationship with joni’s music - and how it evokes a rich sense of time and place for her.
it would be delightful for students/patrons/children to spend time, after reading this, drawing while listening to joni’s music.
if you enjoy alko’s style and want more picture book biographies, then try Two Friends (2016) or The Case for Loving (2015) - both of which she created with her husband sean qualls!
thanks harper kids for the review copy of this book; all opinions are my own.
March 3, 2023
Joni Mitchell is the first Canadian to win the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Over her long and storied career she has written and produced some of the most iconic songs of her generation and they continue to have an impact today.
Selina Alko’s illustrated album of Joni’s life, “Joni: the Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell” is a beautiful tribute to the life of this incredible artist. Illustrating Joni’s life from childhood, Alko show’s how she pushed against convention, expectation, and illness to pursue her dreams and explore painting, writing, and singing. When Joni hits the Toronto and New York scenes, we see other important artists and imagine what it must have been like to sit and listen to all of these wonderful artists. Joni has had an incredible impact on music in Canada and the US and her legacy will endure. This is a wonderful picture book to help a whole new generation explore Joni Mitchell’s art and music.
Teacher Tips
* A wonderful book for a read aloud from K-7
* Many art project possibilities
* Make a timeline of artists from the book and listen to their music as well
Selina Alko’s illustrated album of Joni’s life, “Joni: the Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell” is a beautiful tribute to the life of this incredible artist. Illustrating Joni’s life from childhood, Alko show’s how she pushed against convention, expectation, and illness to pursue her dreams and explore painting, writing, and singing. When Joni hits the Toronto and New York scenes, we see other important artists and imagine what it must have been like to sit and listen to all of these wonderful artists. Joni has had an incredible impact on music in Canada and the US and her legacy will endure. This is a wonderful picture book to help a whole new generation explore Joni Mitchell’s art and music.
Teacher Tips
* A wonderful book for a read aloud from K-7
* Many art project possibilities
* Make a timeline of artists from the book and listen to their music as well
February 26, 2020
Not a straightforward biography of the songwriter, but rather an exquisitely crafted celebration and appreciation of Mitchell's creative vision and voice. Alko's lyrical text is much like a song and her stunning collage illustrations burst with vibrancy.
January 28, 2021
This book is a portrait of Joni Mitchell's artistic life, centering around Joni's passions for music, song-writing, painting and creating. The illustrations for this book are visually interesting - a combination of painting, decoupage, collage, and words (including song lyrics).
February 24, 2020
Colorful and hits the highlights of Mitchell's life. Some details could have been fleshed out more, but overall a good introduction to the person.
May 30, 2020
Joni Mitchell grew up in Canada and was a very artistic child, playing music and painting. Even a bout with polio didn't shut her down. As a young adult, she moved to Toronto and wrote music and sang in cafes. Eventually moving to New York, she started signing her own songs in Greenwich Village, then on to California. Her friends were the legends of folk music. She missed Woodstock but wrote a memorable song about it. Joni Mitchell did what she liked best, and she did it her way.
Selina Alko's picture book biography of Joni Mitchell is very nostalgic - I loved the lyric speech bubbles, the connection of certain songs to her life events and the collage illustrations particularly those of her contemporaries. The style of illustration suited the subject. I think adults who love Joni Mitchell will find this engaging - it's a great introduction to Mitchell for kids and references some of her most popular songs. Includes author's note, a bibliography and a discography.
For this and more of my reviews, visit http://kissthebook.blogspot.com
Selina Alko's picture book biography of Joni Mitchell is very nostalgic - I loved the lyric speech bubbles, the connection of certain songs to her life events and the collage illustrations particularly those of her contemporaries. The style of illustration suited the subject. I think adults who love Joni Mitchell will find this engaging - it's a great introduction to Mitchell for kids and references some of her most popular songs. Includes author's note, a bibliography and a discography.
For this and more of my reviews, visit http://kissthebook.blogspot.com
March 26, 2025
A great book on Joni Mitchell. I go through periods of deep Joni Mitchell which I can listen to her stuff over and over. She is profound. She is so unique. Still, her music just sits on her own. It's amazing.
This is a great telling of her life. It's sort of told like a dream and Joni bounces from thing to thing. It doesn't go into details of how she got signed or making records or any of that. It's her vibe the story is after. The Joni-ness of Joni. it works really well.
What I love most about this story is the artwork. Joni was a painter first and this story tell music through artwork. It's just beautiful. The artwork is acryllic, collage, found objects and wild flowers to make this artwork. It's fantastic. This is worthy of a Caldecott. This should have gotten a nomination. It's fantastic. The art is the story and it is Joni. Brilliant.
Any kid interested in Joni Mitchell or singers or a book of really great art will love this book.
This is a great telling of her life. It's sort of told like a dream and Joni bounces from thing to thing. It doesn't go into details of how she got signed or making records or any of that. It's her vibe the story is after. The Joni-ness of Joni. it works really well.
What I love most about this story is the artwork. Joni was a painter first and this story tell music through artwork. It's just beautiful. The artwork is acryllic, collage, found objects and wild flowers to make this artwork. It's fantastic. This is worthy of a Caldecott. This should have gotten a nomination. It's fantastic. The art is the story and it is Joni. Brilliant.
Any kid interested in Joni Mitchell or singers or a book of really great art will love this book.
April 10, 2020
For me it begins with How Much Is That Doggy In The Window and it's continued to this day. It's like we have a library of songs in our minds. We sing them. We hum them. We play them on a variety of devices over and over depending on our moods, moments and activities. Each song by each artist is a milestone in our lives.
To this days whenever I gaze at clouds and the patterns they make, the words of Joni Mitchell from her song, Both Sides Now (Clouds), spring into my mind. I can hear her singing it as clearly as if she is standing next to me. This is the power of music and music makers. Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell (Harper, HarperCollinsPublishers, February 25, 2020) written and illustrated by Selina Alko is an inspired walk into and through a life of making art.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
To this days whenever I gaze at clouds and the patterns they make, the words of Joni Mitchell from her song, Both Sides Now (Clouds), spring into my mind. I can hear her singing it as clearly as if she is standing next to me. This is the power of music and music makers. Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell (Harper, HarperCollinsPublishers, February 25, 2020) written and illustrated by Selina Alko is an inspired walk into and through a life of making art.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
June 23, 2021
I wanted to like this but it fell short.
The illustrations are nice but were a lot for my literal child...the first spread of her sitting on a paint pallate had him confused. I could see it being a love them or hate them situation. He hated them, I thought they were nice but wasn't sure they added to the text.
The story was just confusing. Lots of leaps and gaps...like she's in a hospital on one spread and then in the next she's in high school, she's in a Greenwich village cafe in one spread and then suddenly gets beamed to California...my kid kept asking, but what happened? I know it's a short format, but some transition or way of holding it together is needed. And I felt like it was trying to be an immersive text all about her creative process but just ended up being...disjointed and confusing. A disappointment.
The illustrations are nice but were a lot for my literal child...the first spread of her sitting on a paint pallate had him confused. I could see it being a love them or hate them situation. He hated them, I thought they were nice but wasn't sure they added to the text.
The story was just confusing. Lots of leaps and gaps...like she's in a hospital on one spread and then in the next she's in high school, she's in a Greenwich village cafe in one spread and then suddenly gets beamed to California...my kid kept asking, but what happened? I know it's a short format, but some transition or way of holding it together is needed. And I felt like it was trying to be an immersive text all about her creative process but just ended up being...disjointed and confusing. A disappointment.
March 22, 2021
I like the biography style picture books, for myself and my kids. We learn interesting things.
The pictures here have a unique style I enjoyed, and I think they would have found it more interesting if we had listened to music beforehand to know who/what we were reading about. We had borrowed this from the Library and pulled from the stack before bedtime, so it wasn’t very impactful as a “real person” story they recognize. Interesting life pared down to a standard picture book format, really kind of a gloss over, that as an adult I think left a lot out. Maybe a good keepsake if the artist means more to you, but not a lot for an introduction. I did learn new things, and wondered about some details... so still enjoyable.
The pictures here have a unique style I enjoyed, and I think they would have found it more interesting if we had listened to music beforehand to know who/what we were reading about. We had borrowed this from the Library and pulled from the stack before bedtime, so it wasn’t very impactful as a “real person” story they recognize. Interesting life pared down to a standard picture book format, really kind of a gloss over, that as an adult I think left a lot out. Maybe a good keepsake if the artist means more to you, but not a lot for an introduction. I did learn new things, and wondered about some details... so still enjoyable.
June 18, 2021
I was disappointed by this one. I'm a fan of Joni, and a fan of picture book biographies as a way to introduce my 4 year old to other people's stories. So it seemed like a slam dunk but it didn't really work. The images were great and well matched to Joni's aesthetic and lyrics. But the narrative felt really "first she went over here, then she went over there, then she wrote this song, then she wrote that song". It didn't feel like it gave a sense of Joni as a person, her motivations, and it also just didn't make for a very compelling plot. Needed some more editing or a different style to make it effective in the way some other great biographies for kids are, like: Nadia, the Girl who Couldn't Sit Still, Trombone Shorty, or A Girl Named Rosita
October 7, 2020
I felt like I was touring a museum exhibit on Joni Mitchell - lots of new information, a lot of interesting information. But it felt like I was kind of wandering around encountering curated vignettes without a guide. There is a list of albums and a bibliography in the back, but no timeline and I found myself having to look up how old she is (and whether she was still alive). Basically, there was not a concrete thread to follow. So maybe not the best source for complete knowledge.
But I thought the overall aesthetic was beautiful and echoed what I know of Mitchell's music. It made me want to listen to what she created.
But I thought the overall aesthetic was beautiful and echoed what I know of Mitchell's music. It made me want to listen to what she created.
August 6, 2020
Selina Alko has captured the essence of Joni Mitchell in this gorgeous picture book. I wish it had been available when one of the teams I worked with in the library were researching musicians and bands for history projects.
Like the author, my sister and knew all the words and sang along with her earlier albums. Clouds was one of the first albums I purchased.
This picture book introduces readers to the basic outline of her life. I wonder why, while discussing her Blue album it didn't mention her giving up her baby. Her sadness is mentioned, but the reason for it is left out.
Like the author, my sister and knew all the words and sang along with her earlier albums. Clouds was one of the first albums I purchased.
This picture book introduces readers to the basic outline of her life. I wonder why, while discussing her Blue album it didn't mention her giving up her baby. Her sadness is mentioned, but the reason for it is left out.
August 18, 2020
"Joni Mitchell painted with words. Sitting at her piano or strumming the guitar, she turned the words into songs. The songs were like brushstrokes on a canvas, saying things that were not only happy or sad but true. But before composing more than two hundred songs, Joni was a young girl from a town on the Canadian prairie, where she learned to love dancing, painting, birdsong, and piano. As she grew up into an artist, Joni took her strong feelings--feelings of love and frustration, and the turbulence that came with being a young woman--and wrote them into vivid songs."--
August 9, 2020
Possible contender for the Mock Caldecott Awards. I loved the bright, bold illustrations and the collages crisscrossed with bits and pieces of Joni's lyrics throughout the book. I remember listening to her music in collage but have never really known anything about her life. This was a very interesting and informative book.
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September 19, 2020Beautifully illustrated more impressionistic than actual biography. Back matter does very little to add to knowledge of the artist. There's a discography and bibliography, but a timeline or other information would've rounded out the spare text. Author's note, while personal also did little to inform young readers about the artist's life.
May 3, 2024
It was a pretty book, but the story was a bit lacking and basic.
When Joni's teacher told her: "if you can paint with a brush, you can paint with words," I found myself thinking that this book undermines that very point.
No shade to Selina Alko. it's just hard to be good at writing AND illustrating!
When Joni's teacher told her: "if you can paint with a brush, you can paint with words," I found myself thinking that this book undermines that very point.
No shade to Selina Alko. it's just hard to be good at writing AND illustrating!
March 11, 2020
“songs like the ones she was writing— spoken-word stories sung out loud”
Don’t remember that she never did get to Woodstock.
Joni Mitchell has the most music on my families Hello discs of any musical artist.
Don’t remember that she never did get to Woodstock.
Joni Mitchell has the most music on my families Hello discs of any musical artist.
September 11, 2020
I liked it because I love Joni Mitchell, and I could link the story with things I already knew about her and could hear the music in my head. It might be a little too jumpy for someone who doesn't know anything about Joni.
November 14, 2020
This doesn't really feel like a book written for children -- it feels like an idea the author thought would be best expressed in a heavily illustrated/picture book format. Very visually fun, but the story is meh, not super interesting to kids, and would be a nightmare to read aloud.
September 28, 2021
What a sweet way to introduce a youngster to the life and music of Joni Mitchell. This picture book captures Joni’s creative life as a painter and as a singer using lyrics from her songs and images from her albums in the lovely illustrations that are a dear homage to the great Joni Mitchell.
December 29, 2023
I liked it, but I think it has a lot to do with my current infatuation with Joni Mitchell's music. The book is wonderfully illustrated with a mix of art mediums. The bits of Joni Mitchell's history are a wonderful starting point for anyone who loves Joni Mitchell.
February 29, 2020
A beautiful picture book about an amazing musician.
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