Rock and Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story

by Sebastian Robertson, Adam Gustavson (Illustrator)

Overview

Canadian guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson is known mainly for his central role in the musical group the Band. But how did he become one of Rolling Stone's top 100 guitarists of all time? Written by his son, Sebastian, this is the story of a rock-and-roll legend's journey through music, beginning when he was taught to play guitar at nine years old on a Native American reservation. Rock and Roll Highway is the story of a young person's passion, drive, and determination to follow his dream.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466883185
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	10/21/2014
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	64 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Like his father, Sebastian Robertson is a musician and accomplished songwriter. He has written many songs for major television series such as Felicity, Boston Public, Boston Common, and Sammy, and is on staff with MTV as a composer for non-scripted shows. He lives with his family in Los Angeles. Adam Gustavson is the award-winning illustrator of over twenty books for children, including Just Kidding by Trudy Ludwig, Snow Day! by Lester L. Laminack, and the Charlie Bumpers series by Bill Harley. His childhood was shaped in no small part by his parents' extensive album collection, which included several records of The Band. Adam holds an MFA from the School of Visual Arts and teaches at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He lives in New Jersey with his family and several guitars.

Like his father Robbie, Sebastian Robertson is a musician and accomplished songwriter. He has written many songs for major television series such as Felicity, Boston Public, Boston Common, and Sammy, and is on staff with MTV as a composer for non-scripted shows. Sebastian is the author of Rock and Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story. He lives with his family in Los Angeles.

Adam Gustavson is the illustrator of over twenty books for children, including the Sydney Taylor Honor winner, The Yankee at the Seder; Rock 'n' Roll Highway, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year and a CBC Children's Choices Award winner; and Amelia Bloomer Award winner, Rough, Tough Charley. Adam holds an MFA from the School of Visual Arts and teaches at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and children.
www.adamgustavson.com.

Editorial Reviews

A thorough chronicling of a musical trailblazer.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This attractive picture book biography profiles artist Robbie Robertson . . . a well-illustrated and nicely told story.” —School Library Journal

“Kids who like dancing around to their parents' (or grandparents') LPs may get a kick - and learn something too - from this insightful picture-book bio of rocker Robbie Robertson, penned by his son.” —Booklist

“Gustavson's naturalistic oil paintings combine off-the-cuff moments with more iconic compositions that might have been pulled from dusty album covers.” —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2014-08-20
Guitarist Robbie Robertson's son presents his father's journey to rock-'n'-roll fame. As a child of mixed Mohawk and Jewish heritage in Ontario, Canada, Robbie spent significant time on the reservation where his mother grew up. There, he was inspired by the vivid storytelling of the elders to become a storyteller himself. He was exposed to many instruments but fell in love with the guitar, which he practiced ferociously. By 16, Robbie was making music professionally. He left Canada for New York City and eventually became the lead guitarist for an established touring band. This experience paved the way for Robbie and his band mates, known simply as The Band, to set out creating their own distinctive sound, which incorporated Robbie's passion for storytelling in their lyrics. Robertson writes with an endearing tone of adoration and pride, although the narrative runs awfully long: Lengthy paragraphs include superfluous details that will likely lose the attention of young readers who are not already keen fans. The oil illustrations successfully capture time and place, and they incorporate some of the famous faces Robbie met along his way. The book is most likely to be appreciated in settings where children study musical pioneers—and when accompanied by recordings of The Band's music. A thorough chronicling of a musical trailblazer—though probably too thorough for most in the typical picture-book audience. (timeline, interview) (Picture book/biography. 7-12)

Kirkus Reviews