(3) K-3 Illustrated by Red Nose Studio. In this innovative look at Elvis Presley's against-the-odds rise from Tupelo, Mississippi, ragamuffin to King of Rock and Roll, Winter gets real: he uses folksy vernacular ("Times is hard") and credits the African American church with the King's sound ("It's black music sung by a Southern white man"). The illustrations--photos of handmade three-dimensional scenes--feature improbably emotive wax-like characters.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Evocative free verse follows Elvis chronologically from his humble beginnings to the legendary Sun Records recording studio in Memphis where the young musician got his big break. Christensen wisely focuses on Elvis's childhood and pre-fame years; many young readers will relate to his unwavering focus on music. Photo-collage and mixed-media illustrations have just the right touch of folksiness for the subject. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Sam Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2015

(4) YA American Rebels series. These biographies introduce iconoclastic, boundary-pushing individuals, from Elvis and his dangerous-seeming sensuality to Malcolm X's militant approach to civil rights. Each volume begins with a scene from a turning point in the subject's life, then details his rise to fame, personal and professional hardships, and legacy. Photographs, sidebars, and pull-quotes help break up the dense texts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these American Rebels titles: John Lennon, Malcolm X, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(2) 4-6 Cartoonist Stamaty's account of how his eight-year-old self discovered rock 'n' roll is rich in character, incident, family dynamics, and period detail. Mark is driven wild by Elvis Presley's music; his mom is driven crazy. Stamaty's dough-faced grinning caricatures glow with a surprising warmth that should reach across generations to grab kids and make them think twice about their grandparents.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2010

(4) YA Elvira's father takes off to compete in an Elvis impersonator competition. Her pregnant mother follows suit, dragging Elvira and her little sister to meet their estranged grandmother. Quirky characters abound, as do revelations about the intricacies of family relationships. The novel has its charms, but the intriguingly messy family dynamics are tied up too neatly in the end.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) YA Johnny Ross knows he's not supposed to visit Beale Street ("downtown for Negroes") in 1954 Memphis. Drawn there by the music, he discovers a new world, including an acquaintance with rising star Elvis Presley. The Elvis conceit and twist ending are gimmicky vehicles for this otherwise engaging glimpse into the era's explosive race relations set against popular-music history.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) 4-6 While staying with his father in Chicago, thirteen-year-old Josh is mortified to discover that Dad has reinvented himself as an Elvis impersonator. Things go from bad to worse when he receives an invitation to perform at Josh's new school. Pearsall believably and humorously explores the nuances of this father-son relationship with a twist.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(2) YA Hampton starts by describing his own memories of hearing Elvis for the first time. He then serves up a wealth of information on Presley's childhood, music, army stint, movie career, and love life (though, through no fault of his own, Hampton can't explain some of Elvis's bizarre obsessions). This thoughtful portrait of the rock-and-roll king is never oversimplified. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2007

(4) PS Illustrated by Dean Gorissen. "Ten little Elvi gettin' ready to shine... / One made a comeback / and then there were nine." References to Graceland, the Vegas years, and other Elvis staples won't mean much to the book's intended audience. Still, this snappy version of the counting rhyme has visual appeal, with its caricatured pompadour-wearing cast, and enough bounce to engage even those not already familiar with the King.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(3) 4-6 Short, punchy chapters follow Elvis from supremely gifted youth to his lonely, dissolute end. Denenberg tells the tale in a disarmingly casual narrative voice, peppered with asides and interjections. The book does a good job capturing Elvis's legendary persona but nearly fails to recognize his artistic contributions. The accompanying black-and-white photographs show Presley at his best and worst. A time line is included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2002

(4) 4-6 Heinemann Profiles series. These standard-issue biographies feature an easy-to-read text, captioned photos, quotations by and about the subject, and rather busy layouts. Occasionally the text is misleading, but overall the facts are presented in a fairly balanced manner. Depending on the subject, a time line, a list of films, or a list of recordings is included in each book. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Heinemann Profiles titles: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Henry Ford, Elvis Presley, George Lucas.]

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. In this story about Elvis Presley's early life and musical influences, Littlesugar portrays the boy musician as lonely, poor, and without many resources, but deeply passionate about gospel music and the blues. The overlong text offers insight (albeit fictionalized) into this legendary figure; Cooper's hazy, earth-toned illustrations lend feeling to the story. An author's note provides additional information. Bib.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn