Review by Horn Book Review
Riley B. King (1925-2015) was born in Mississippi, during the era of segregation. Life wasn't easy for him: his mother died when he was nine, and he struggled with a stutter, which other children teased him about. But in church with his grandmother, gospel music brought him joy. When his aunt introduced him to the blues, he was reminded of those gospel hymns: "Blues singers...sang lyrics of deep despair. But the slow, sorrowful guitar music rocked Riley in the arms of bliss." Later, as a member of a gospel quartet, he discovered that when he sang, his stutter disappeared. King eventually chased his musical dreams to Memphis. He purchased an electric guitar, named it Lucille, and took the stage name of Blues Boy; then, in 1951, as B. B. King, he produced a hit record that led to fame and fortune. A lyrical poem by Duncan opens the book, setting a poignant tone that mirrors the emotional depth of the blues, capturing its essence. Her assured prose throughout gently guides readers into the life of one of the genre's most iconic figures. Through a rich interplay of soft and vibrant colors, expressive shapes, and soulful portraits, Williams's art -- crafted in oil and acrylic collage -- amplifies the biography's emotional resonance and brings King's story vividly to life. Back matter includes a timeline, further information, and suggested picture-book readings. Pauletta Brown BracyJanuary/February 2026 p.88 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Before being crowned King of the Blues, B.B. King (1925-2015) was a Mississippi Delta boy named Riley with a guitar and a dream. Born in the segregated South, Riley B. King is devastated when his beloved mother dies, but she leaves the 9-year-old with words of wisdom that he carries throughout his life: "When you do good and treat folks right, good things will come to you." He finds solace in the guitar music played at his grandmother's church, but his patched-up overalls and stuttering speech are bitter fuel for schoolyard bullies. Riley's aunt introduces him to the blues, and the melancholy music "rock[s] Riley in the arms of bliss." When his grandmother dies, he hitches a ride to Memphis, Tennessee, where he slowly makes a name for himself, performing under the moniker Blues Boy. He buys the electric guitar that he famously dubs Lucille; his first hit record in 1951--released under the name B.B. King--launches him into blues stardom. Williams' oil and acrylic collage illustrations layer emotive portraits atop abstract shapes, intricate landscapes, and found paper like sheet music and newsprint. The stunning imagery evokes stained glass or panels of a divinely glowing triptych. Emphasizing King's desire to put good into the world--to "[plant] seeds of joyous sounds"--Duncan's expressive prose echoes the lyrics of a powerful blues song, ensuring its pages will be read (or sung) aloud on repeat. A moving melody of striking visuals and soulful words. (more about King, timeline, places to visit, discover the music, suggested reading, bibliography)(Picture-book biography. 7-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
