Publishers Weekly
This lyrical picture-book biography of the reggae icon tells his story in verse, from humble beginnings in a small Jamaican village to his glory days as an influential musician. Told in first person (the "I and I" can mean "we"), 17 poems chronologically plot Marley's life path-combined, the poems (and vibrant acrylics) paint a vivid picture of the poverty and turmoil but also the love, faith and island beauty from which Marley arose. "At Fourteen" describes his entrée into the music scene with Peter Tosh, Joe Higgs and others, while "Island Song" is a rebuke of Jamaican oppression. "Yell-ow green black and red/ I and I a natty dread/ African Arawak Taino/ I am from/ Slave ship mountains/ And Caribbean rum." While readers may not understand all the verses and terms, Medina's (Love to Langston) thorough endnotes will answer questions, e.g., what the term Babylon means. Watson's (Chess Rumble) majestic art powerfully evokes the people and places that had the strongest influence on Marley, as well as the power he himself would wield. Ages 8-12. (May)
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School Library Journal
Gr 4 Up
When Bob Marley died in 1981, he was a legend in the music world. He had taken the beat-driven music of his people, reggae, and placed it squarely on the world stage. As trite as the saying is, his music has lived on well beyond his death, and this biography in verse brings him to the forefront once again. Medina, clearly a fan, has created a series of poems that follow Marley's life from childhood through his death at age 36. Born a biracial child in poverty in Jamaica, Marley always felt uncomfortable about having a British father whom he saw as a member of the party of oppression. Marley knew he wanted to be a singer at a young age. Overcoming enormous obstacles, he attained what most can only dream of and used his fame and his Rastafarian religion to support his hope for peace in the world. Referencing Marley's songs again and again, the poems resonate with the artist's message throughout. Watson's arresting art sings of the highs and lows of Jamaica, both the abject poverty and the beauty of the island and its people. Copious back matter provides context for each of the songs/poems and helps neophytes understand the music and the man. Anyone interested in reggae music and its major voice will find this volume intriguing. Contemporary children, however, may need to be encouraged to read this book since Bob Marley is not someone they typically listen to.-Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Kirkus Reviews
In Love to Langston, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (2002), Medina paid homage to the Harlem poet Langston Hughes. His latest biography-in-verse celebrates another powerful master of words: Bob Marley. Early poems show Marley growing up on the Jamaican "farm of Nine Miles dust," struggling to understand his mixed heritage and absent father. Then, in "My Papa Sends for Me," a scared little boy of six boards a bus in the hopes of a better future, all the while crying "a hurricane of pain." Stories unfold in 17 individual poems as Marley learns the power of music, falls in love and ultimately shares his redemption songs with the world. Biographical elements sometimes stall the pace, but most verses scan smoothly in a relaxed, reggae style. Watson's light-soaked strokes of reds, greens and yellows saturate the pages with warmth and vitality. The irrefutable kind of reggae bursts forth with twinkling eyes and "dreads / a twirl." From love to politics to peace, Marley's music stirs the soul-as does this passionate collaboration. Detailed endnotes provide background, poem by poem. (Biography/poetry. 8-12)
From the Publisher
* "[A] rare, soulful tribute." — Booklist, starred review
"[T]he poems resonate with the artist's message throughout. . . Anyone interested in reggae music and its major voice will find this volume intriguing." — School Library Journal
"This lyrical picture-book biography of the reggae icon tells his story in verse, from humble beginnings in a small Jamaican village to his glory days as an influential musician." — Publishers Weekly
"Thoughtful and adept. . . Watson's acrylics capture Marley's public magnetism as well as private, introspective moments." — The Horn Book
"I and I Bob Marley is artistic and adept in both its verse and visuals, and perhaps most importantly, it can be used to reinforce positivity—the ultimate message of Bob Marley's life." — Multicultural Review
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