There’s More to Life Than Rock N Roll

While we’re big fans of the rock n roll around these parts, we also have a soft spot for the country classics. And no, that doesn’t mean Achy-Breaky Heart. Bite your tongue.
I’m simply smitten with the recent release, Honky-Tonk Heroes and Hillbilly Angels: The Pioneers of Country and Western Music. Authored by Holly-George Warren (also the better half of CMP kindie music god, Uncle Rock), it’s a great way to introduce your grade schooler to the music legends who certainly influenced the music they’ll grow up to annoy you with.
The bite-sized, engaging bios of country greats like Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Gene Autry are only made better by Laura Levin’s phenomenal folk-art portaits of the artists, which will engage kids perhaps as long as the songs themselves. Just don’t be surprised if you buy the book for your favorite nephew and it ends up on his parents’ bookshelf instead. –Liz