A young girls explores all of the many musical styles she appreciates and all the forms of performance in which she participates in this upbeat picture-book from author Susan Verde and illustrator Matthew Cordell. Inspired by the poster announcing her school's talent show, she celebrates everything from classical to jazz, blues to hip-hop, always concluding that she has a rock 'n' roll soul...

Pairing an engaging text in rhyme, one that boasts an appropriately rhythmic meter, with appealing artwork done in pen and ink and watercolor, Rock 'n' Roll Soul is a fun new picture-book, one sure to have plenty of appeal for young music lovers. I appreciated the young heroine's exuberant self-confidence, and, and as someone with eclectic musical interests myself, the broad range of musical genres that she enjoys. So many times, one sees this attitude that different styles and genres of music are in competition, or even antithetical to each other, when really they're branches of the same wonderful tree, so it's good to see that Verde cast a wide net, in the kinds of music her heroine celebrates. Recommended to all young would-be musicians, and to all young music appreciators. ( )