About the Author

Suzanne Slade is the award-winning author of dozens of children's nonfiction books, including The Inventor's Secret, Friends for Freedom, and The House That George Built. She lives in Libertyville, Illinois, with her husband, two children, and adorable dog, Corduroy. suzanneslade.com Stacy Innerst is an artist and the illustrator of numerous picture books for children, including Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation by Peggy Thomas and M Is for Music by Kathleen Krull, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. stacyinnerst.com

Reviews

FOUR STARRED REVIEWS! * "Through evocative storytelling, expressive hand-lettered text, and dynamic paintings, Slade and Innerst explore the making of Gershwin's acclaimed "Rhapsody in Blue" in an account that's as 'lively, fun, and different' as the works the composer wrote... a rousing look at one of the defining contributions to the Great American Songbook." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review --Publishers Weekly, starred review * "One of American music's masterpieces, 'Rhapsody in Blue,' is introduced here along with its composer, George Gershwin... Slade and Innerst... work beautifully together to create a book that builds to a crescendo just as 'Rhapsody' does. The swirling text wraps around the inventive (and mostly blue) art, both literally and figuratively, capturing the time period as well as the dazzling musical piece... This is fitting celebration of a musical milestone--keep a copy of the song cued up for curious listeners." --Booklist, starred review * "Slade teams up with Innerst for this pleasant picture book biography of composer George Gershwin... Innerst's acrylic spreads are almost entirely done in blue and gray tones, with broad brushstrokes, scanned textiles, and paper adding texture; each scene is striking. Slade's narrative is highly readable and lightly peppered with musical onomatopoeia... A detailed author's note, time line, and bibliography add further depth to this well-researched work. Readers will get a glimpse into Gershwin's mind and find the music within. Highly recommended" --School Library Journal, starred review * "Slade illuminates George Gershwin's creative process, from inception to premiere of "Rhapsody in Blue."... Innerst's acrylic-on-paper compositions, in a striking palette of indigo, sepia, and white, whimsically evoke both the period and the composer's creativity... Bravo!" --Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Slade traces Gershwin's early talents and rise to fame as a 'daring' composer who wove together myriad musical forms with city sounds, building toward the triumph of the composition and first performance of a 'musical kaleidoscope of America's melting pot-Rhapsody in Blue.' Swirly acrylic paintings and hand-lettering in a palette of almost all blues perfectly visualize the 'razzmatazz dazzling' music." --The Horn Book Magazine "The picture book...comes alive as the blue, sepia, muter colors, and words swirl across the pages...the title will be appreciated by music teachers as an introduction to the music Gershwin composed, as well as by language arts teachers focusing on biographies." --Library Media Connection, Highly Recommended A Parents' Choice Gold Award A Booklist Top 10 Arts Book for Youth