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This is an installment of the very popular "Who was?/What Was?" series of informational and biographical books. I recommend this book because it's a break from the usual suspects of biography subjects, plus the subject is still alive which I think provides greater context for the reader. This book chronicles Dolly's childhood from poor country girl to her rise as one of the top female entertainers. Information and facts about her life are presented, formatted and written so that younger readers can understand them. Illustrations are included in this book and greatly resemble their subjects; the illustrations of Dolly, her husband Carl Dean, and her other fellow country stars are incredibly life-like and give a great representation of these historical figures. There are also informational tidbits throughout the book about cultural, historical and geographical touchstones in Dolly's life like the Great Smokey Mountains and the Grand Ole Opry. I recommend this book not just because I'm a fan of Dolly Parton but because I think she's an inspirational story. She was born in poverty but became who she is because of her optimism, humor, kindness and creativity. Dolly is still a relevant public figure so young reader's can make a connection to the person depicted in the book and the person in present day. Dollywood is still a popular attraction and her Imagination Library is still in operation. Even if you're like me and not a country music fan, this book is a must-read. ( )

I love this book for two reasons, the way that the facts about Dolly's life are presented and the illustrations that are throughout the book. One fact that I found to be presented in a very interesting way was how Dolly got herself on the radio and eventually on T.v., this part of the story depicts Dolly as a smart women who is creative and can do anything she puts her mind to. The part where she figured out that if she got all wet and then rolled in sand that she would be able to climb the 50 foot greased up pole to get the 50 dollar bill was both funny and empowering. The illustrations in the book are very simple, however they add character to the story. The illustrations look like pencil sketches are directly related to the content on the page and they are also pictures of Dolly herself too. The big idea behind this book is to tell about Dolly Parton and her life story in a way that is easy to read and understand. ( )

I finished this children's biography with the sense that Dolly Parton is one of the kindest, most optimistic, and hardest working people in show business. And that's all probably true, too! Also pretty impressed that my son who never listens to country music chose to read this book, but Dolly is also responsible for The Pirates Voyage (among many other things). ( )