The Purple One

June 24, 2024
Named after his father’s jazz band and called Skipper by his mother, Prince Rogers Nelson (1958–2016) was teased for his small stature before becoming a larger-than-life icon. Burgess employs brief anecdotes to detail Prince’s personality and arc toward stardom: his hopping onto the stage at age 10 to dance at a James Brown concert, and his signing a “record-breaking three-album deal that guaranteed his creative control” at 19. What comes through is Prince’s hard work and creative vision (about the making of Purple Rain, “Prince didn’t listen to the doubts”) as well as his on-stage presence (“lightning-and-thunder bundled together”). In Thada’s colorblock shapes and velvety textures, a memorable closing spread depicts Prince as a child sitting on pillows atop a piano bench, across the gutter from an adult Prince playing for a packed-out crowd—connecting Prince’s adulthood with his childhood as a “small kid with enormous talent.” Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Creators’ notes and quotation sources conclude. Ages 6–9.

October 15, 2024
Grades K-3 While this glowing picture-book biography of the iconic Prince Nelson Rogers, aka The Purple One, aka The Artist, aka Ƭ̵̬̊, aka Prince, covers the breadth of his life--or at least the parts connected to music--it pays particular attention to his upbringing, showing how he was inspired by his father's performances, felt the call of music, and relentlessly and passionately pursued the craft until he found success and more. Alongside the accounts of his inspirations, there's a running theme of perseverance as Prince contends with his own diminutive size, with others not taking him seriously, and with rejection. The story hits its peak as Prince conceives of Purple Rain and goes on to become synonymous with the color, and it leaves readers with a taste of his immortal Super Bowl performance. While Burgess' text is a rather straightforward play by play, Thada's "colored pencil and aqueous media" illustrations elevate the proceedings with the kind of dynamic presentation and colorful flourish befitting of the subject matter. A vibrant story that will inspire young artists and music historians.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2024
A salute to a musical genius with a uniquely independent spirit. Burgess leaves out the "Artist Formerly Known As" conceit, not to mention his subject's ultimately fatal addiction to fentanyl, to focus on role modeling--carrying Prince Rogers Nelson from bullied child to superstar, riding his "gigantic dream" and outstanding talents to a spectacular performance for millions in the 2007 Super Bowl halftime show. Along the way, the author pays tribute to both Prince's musical gifts, which he inherited from his parents and began expressing with an original song at age 7, and the venturesome ambition that culminated in his distinctive look, brand, self-made film, and hit song "Purple Rain." Why purple? "Purple is regal," the author emotes. "Purple is mysterious. Purple was perfect for Prince." In explosive angles and lines (and, natch, pervasive notes of guess which color?), Thada likewise portrays the self-driven Purple One from a young boy sitting on pillows to reach his father's piano to multi-instrumentalist and flamboyant band leader captivating an entire stadium packed with rocking, racially diverse fans. Even though its more tragic parts remain untold here, Prince's meteoric career offers an example that will entice readers with big, creative dreams of their own. A soaring drive to inspire, with appropriately hued art and prose. (author's and illustrator's notes, quotation sources)(Picture-book biography. 6-9)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2024

Gr 1-3-Burgess, fresh off his saunter through Edward Gorey's eccentricities (As Edward Imagined), works with Thada to create a fascinating and vivid picture book biography of music icon Prince. The work traces his journey from childhood to superstardom with an electric narrative. Prince grew up in Minneapolis brimming with musical potential and died unexpectedly at a young age. In subsequent years, as Burgess tells, he's become even more celebrated and appreciated as one of the greatest musicians and performers of recent times. This dynamic book highlights his early songwriting experience, groundbreaking record deal at age 19, and hit film Purple Rain, which became a global success. His incredible Super Bowl performance is also mentioned. Readers may or may not know of Prince, but they will love discovering a person who forged a unique path to superstardom and created a distinctive style that reshaped music and culture. VERDICT For music collections, biography, or even Americana, this book lends itself to story hours and certainly as an icebreaker for conversations on style, substance, and marching to the beat of a different drummer.-Susan McClellan

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2025
This tribute to the life and artistry of the iconic musician offers readers a chance to delve into Prince's (1958-2016) evolution from music-loving child to determined young adult set on conquering the industry. Born Prince Rogers Nelson and named for his father's jazz band, he was drawn to music from the start: "Music called out to Prince and he wanted to learn how to make it." A lyrical and accessible text illuminates Prince's artistry, highlighting the obstacles he overcame (such as the ridicule he faced for his height and the emotional toll of his parents' divorce) and painting a compelling picture of his resilience -- culminating in the iconic release of the movie and soundtrack for Purple Rain and ending with his 2007 Super Bowl performance. Thada's illustrations enrich the narrative with vibrant, textured images that seem to dance alongside the words. Her use of bold purples, blues, and gold, combined with "colored pencil and aqueous media," brings Prince's electrifying stage presence and his more introspective moments to life. One spread shows Prince mid-leap, diving off the stage into the audience, conveying the energy and intimacy of his live performances. Thada also includes visual nods to Prince's memorable outfits that longtime fans will appreciate. Annisha Jeffries

(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2025
This tribute to the life and artistry of the iconic musician offers readers a chance to delve into Prince's (1958-2016) evolution from music-loving child to determined young adult set on conquering the industry. Born Prince Rogers Nelson and named for his father's jazz band, he was drawn to music from the start: "Music called out to Prince and he wanted to learn how to make it." A lyrical and accessible text illuminates Prince's artistry, highlighting the obstacles he overcame (such as the ridicule he faced for his height and the emotional toll of his parents' divorce) and painting a compelling picture of his resilience -- culminating in the iconic release of the movie and soundtrack for Purple Rain and ending with his 2007 Super Bowl performance. Thada's illustrations enrich the narrative with vibrant, textured images that seem to dance alongside the words. Her use of bold purples, blues, and gold, combined with "colored pencil and aqueous media," brings Prince's electrifying stage presence and his more introspective moments to life. One spread shows Prince mid-leap, diving off the stage into the audience, conveying the energy and intimacy of his live performances. Thada also includes visual nods to Prince's memorable outfits that longtime fans will appreciate.

(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)