Elvis is King by Jonah Winter - ESSENTIAL

Elvis is King by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Red Nose Studio. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Schwartz & Wade Books (Penguin Random House), 2019. $18. 9780399554704

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This picture book is full of bright clay figures that are photographed in dynamic miniature settings, much like a claymation movie. The story of Elvis’s life is divided up and labeled with headings such as “Elvis’s First Job” and “The 147th Cheeseburger Eaten by Elvis.”

This is a picture book that does the brilliant job of bringing a past generations’ experiences and culture to a new generation of readers. It is jolting when students don’t know the cultural icons we grew up with, but books like this make these figures accessible and interesting again. Even without knowing and loving Elvis, this book is interesting in its details and aesthetic. My son even started styling his hair like the cover photo after reading this book.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher