(3) K-3 Illustrated by Charlotte Riley-Webb. Jazz pillar Billie Holiday pushed racial boundaries throughout her career, most notably with her first soul-piercing performance in 1939 of the anti-lynching song "Strange Fruit." A dense but age-sensitive text ably handles the topics of racism and trauma, while whirlwind acrylic and tissue-collage illustrations deftly capture the emotional upheaval of Holiday's life. The song lyrics and additional background information are appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Anastasia M. Collins

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton. This starter biography of singer (and dog lover) Billie Holiday spotlights her relationship with her favorite pet, a boxer named Mister. The focus on Holiday's dog is a conspicuous effort to soften the hard edges on the singer's story, but this is still an excellent introduction to the jazz great. Newton's glam-infused illustrations work best when depicting Holiday as a diva. Bib.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) YA Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. In this fictional memoir, iconic singer Billie Holiday is depicted by raw, beautiful poems ("While my heart healed, I / pinned gardenias in my hair / to hide the bruises") as a figure both tragic and admirable. Gritty illustrations the color and texture of old photos echo the text. Reading list. Bib.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot