Children's Book Review: Buddy; The Buddy Holly Story

ONE WORD BOOK REVIEW: ROCK (MUSIC)

Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly

Author: Anne Bustard

Illustrator: Kurt Cyrus

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Children

Publication Date: February 1, 2005


About The Author
Anne Bustard holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

A Texas Music Legend
This picture book provides a delightful glimpse into the life of Charles Hardin Holley, better known as Buddy Holly.

The author uses colorful "Texas-talk" to describe Buddy's family and early life. Buddy was raised in a musical family so it was only natural for him to take to the guitar when he was in the sixth grade.

Just past Buddy's seventeenth birthday, he and his friend Jack were asked to sing and play on a weekly local radio show.

"Faster than greased lightnin', louder than a thunderstorm, more powerful than a Texas twister, and plumb full of gumption. Buddy and his friends wrote and played hip-hoppin' tunes. No foolin'. That music blasted them into out-of-this-world places".

The author includes an "Afterword" that gives biographical information about Buddy Holly's life and death.

My Thoughts
I was thrilled to find this book (1st ed., signed by author) at a local thrift shop. It is not a new book, but it is perfect for the Texas history/music niche for children ages 6 - 10. I am a Buddy Holly fan and I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

The text is lively and the color illustrations are superb. This book is excellent for a unit in Texas history or music history in the elementary grades. I would share a Buddy Holly song with my listener and then read the book.

I once was a substitute teacher in an elementary music classroom. The teacher had a large bin of picture books about famous musicians. Kudos to this teacher for including biography books in her lessons. This book is a perfect fit for a teacher or parent who wants to introduce students to a time when rock ruled.

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI - I purchased this hardcover book with my own funds.

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Future Girl Rock Star

Isn't this baby girl cute? I have used this image before but this is the first time I have colored the guitar pink for a little girl future rock star.

I will enter this card in Mo's Digital Challenge #143 - Dancing and Singing.

This is how I made the card;

I started with a blank card made from kraft cardstock and measuring 5" by 6 1/2".

I used "Baby Girl Pink Words" (The Paper Studio) flocked cardstock for the background.

I layered a piece of vintage sheet music and a white heart-shaped paper doily.

I used the digital stamp "Future Rock Star" from Mo's Digital Pencil Shop. I colored the image with Copics sketch markers. I highlighted the guitar with a white Prismacolor pencil.

I embellished the card with two glitter photo corners (Martha Stewart), a tiny faux pearl swirl and a faux pearl butterfly.

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Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.



Future Rock Star With A Green Guitar

St. Patrick's Day is next week so I decided to give this future rock star a bright green guitar.  I made this card for Mo's Digital Pencil Card Making Challenge #72 ~ "Oh, Baby!"  I had to use an image of a baby on the card to enter this contest.

This is how I made the card;

1. I used a pre-made dark red card for the base. The card measures 4 1/2" by 5 1/2".

2. I used the digital stamp "Future Rock Star" from Mo's Digital Pencil Shop. I used Prismacolor pencils and Marvy markers to color the image. I lightly chalked the white space around the image with green Pebbles chalks.  I then inked the edges with dark green ink.

3. I used design papers from K & Company for the background.  I distressed the striped paper with my scissors.

4. I embellished the card with a cardstock tag that says "Absolute Delight" and a white rose from K & Company.  I used a Bow-Easy template to make the tiny green bow.

This card could be used as a new baby card, birthday card or even a St. Patrick's Day card.