Praise for The Purple One

One of School Library Journal's "28 Picture Book Biographies for Black History Month and All Year"One of the Horn Book’s "7 picture book biographies celebrating Black excellence" "A salute to a musical genius with a uniquely independent spirit... 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."
Kirkus Reviews

A lyrical and accessible text illuminates Prince’s artistry, highlighting the obstacles he overcame and painting a compelling picture of his resilience... 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 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.
The Horn Book

Burgess employs brief anecdotes to detail Prince’s personality and arc toward stardom... What comes through is Prince’s hard work and creative vision... 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.'
Publishers Weekly

[A] glowing picture-book biography of the iconic Prince Nelson Rogers aka The Purple One aka The Artist aka ???° aka Prince... Thada's illustrations elevate the proceedings with true artistry, 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.
Booklist

About the Author

Matthew Burgess is a poet, professor, and children’s book author. He teaches at Brooklyn College and is a teaching artist in New York City public schools. He is also the author of, among other titles, Enormous Smallness: A Story of E.E. Cummings; Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring; Make Meatballs Sing: The Life & Art of Corita Kent; and Sylvester’s Letter. He lives with his husband in Brooklyn and Berlin.
The daughter of Thai immigrants, Sirin Thada was born and raised in Baltimore, and has been making art since childhood. Most recently, she was the in-house illustrator for Catapult magazine, and has been published in the Washington Post, Guardian, TIME magazine, and more. She currently lives and works in NYC along with her husband, scientific artist Jason Brougham, and their adorable rescue pup, Indie. The Purple One is her picture book debut.

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