Song for Jimi

Charles R. Smith Jr. is an award-winning children's book author, photographer and poet with over thirty books to his credit. His awards include a Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration for his photographs accompanying the Langston Hughes poem, My People and a Coretta Scott King Honor Author Award for his biography on Muhammad Ali, Twelve Rounds to Glory. He lives in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Edel Rodriguez was born in Havana, Cuba. He has received the Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators and for many years was the art director of Time Magazine. Books he has illustrated include Mama Does the Mambo, by Katherine Leiner, and Float Like a Butterfly, by Ntozake Shange. Edel lives in New Jersey with his wife and daughter.

"[A] psychedelic love letter. . . ." New York Times

"Smith gives light, air, and sound to the life story of an unparalleled musician. . . . Rodriguez s gritty, oil-based woodblock paintings effectively capture Hendrix s passion, drive, and genius. . . . This creative, impassioned, in-your-face biography is as on fire as Jimi Hendrix s guitar." Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Poet Charles R. Smith Jr. and illustrator Edel Rodriguez have collaborated on this electrifying picture book biography of guitar genius, Jimi Hendrix. Visuals practically leap off the page and stab the eye and ear with bright, bold colors and pulsating sounds. . . . This book breaks the mold, personifying Jimi Hendrix's journey to greatness using the art of poetry and illustration with jarring effectiveness." School Library Connection

"Using flashy colors and explosive compositions, Rodriguez creates a set of poster-style illustrations that give this tribute to legendary "git-tar man" Jimi Hendrix both an evocative urgency and a strong period flavor." Booklist

"Bursts with psychedelic color and rhythmic verse. . .  Free verse structured like one long song with repeating motifs is an effective choice for conveying Hendrix s creative and musical journey. . . . Music radiates from Jimi in swirls, rays, and zig-zags, and he is rendered in a different dynamic pose on each page." School Library Journal

"Smith casts his narration in free verse rhythms reflective of Hendrix s musical. . . . Rodriguez tracks Hendrix through a vibrant visual age progression that will engross readers with the revolving door of looks. . . ." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Hendrix fans young and old will appreciate this look at how 'Jimi showed the world/ how to kiss the sky.'" Publishers Weekly