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Member Reviews

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

Dolly Parton is an amazing singer, who has given of herself to many people. This little book is a great introduction to Dolly and all she has accomplished. I loved the illustrations.

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This book was so bright and colourful that the pictures really appealed to my child. As a fan of Dolly for so long, I loved that there were so many facts that I could share while reading, adding my own information and playing music and singing songs as we went through. I did feel that some of the information listed had to be explained as my little one did not know what "The Guinness Book of Records" was or the "Country Music Hall Of Fame", so thankfully I was able to fill the gaps.

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What an adorable and informative tribute to our reigning Queen of Country!

The illustrations are so bright and vibrant (PERFECT for a Dolly book of course), and the details about her life really encapsulate her countless achievements in a kid-friendly format.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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A gorgeously illustrated biography of the wonderful Dolly Parton. Starting with her successes from a very young age through all of her achievements. This book shows the breadth of her success and how she's given back to the world, in particular to children.

This book is great for inspiring children into being themselves and following their dreams.Thr illustrations are fabulous and really help to bring it all to life. A great book to read with your little one

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*Baby Biographies: Dolly Parton – My Baby’s Introduction to the Queen of Country* by Amanda Sobotka is a beautifully illustrated picture book that presents Dolly Parton with grace and glamour. The images are vibrant and full of life, showing Dolly as the radiant and iconic figure she is. Visually, the book is a joy to look through and would easily capture the attention of young children.

However, the text once again raises questions about the intended audience. Phrases like "male-dominated industry," "go platinum," "trailblazing," "cultural heritage," and "philanthropic ventures" are sophisticated and abstract for a book that appears to target babies or toddlers. While the wording isn’t quite as complex as in other titles in the series, it still doesn’t seem well matched to the book’s format and tone. The result is a product that looks like it’s for very young children but reads like it’s aimed at much older ones. I would give it 3 out of 5 stars. I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and Cider Mill Press.

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The illustrations were super cute. My issue is that this is marketed as a baby book and the written portion is definitely for an older audience. I liked that it was decided into fact and impact

If you love dolly Parton and want to share that with their kids

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This was a super cute book! Everyone loves Dolly and all the kids should too!

Great format and visuals. Easy to read and follow along for our young readers!

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Oh my gosh I ADORE this series! I want to buy every single one for my baby nephew! All of the art in them is so colourful and gorgeous! They contain far more information than I ever knew about the celeb as an adult! Super great book

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Gorgeous story book about the life and works of incredible woman that is Dolly Parton.

A lovely book that got me singing along to her songs, learning about her passions and awards. Her amazing legacy in music, acting and philanthropy and truly breaking boundaries. An inspiration to us all!

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This sweet and simple book is a great way to learn about Dolly Parton. Even if you don’t like country music (I don’t!), it’s easy to appreciate all the good things Dolly has done. Her story is easy to follow and paired with nice illustrations that make it even more enjoyable. It’s a great pick for kids or anyone who looks up to her.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for letting me read this lovely book—I definitely recommend it!

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This was an informative, yet entertaining book about the acclaimed career of Dolly Parton. The illustrations were fun and colorful, which makes this the perfect book for little ones.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for providing an e-ARC.

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Super cute book! I loved the illustration style - it's really fun. The information was interesting, though with a book by "baby biographies", it seemed more for toddlers or a little older but as someone who reads pretty much any book with illustrations to a 1 year old, that's ok! Another quick critique I had was that I thought there was going to be maybe a "summary" or "wrap up" page at the end as it felt kind of abrupt with the last fact. Overall great book!!

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This is such a cute idea, I absolutely loved learning about Dolly Parton and the illustrations are so cute! I’ll definitely be looking out for more books like this, so fun!!!

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I love everything about this!! The colour choices and design is giving barbie vibes which is so fitting for Dolly. I have loved Dolly since I was a girl and I can imagine how excited I would be to see a book about her life when I was that age. I love that there are so many text-free pages because the illustrations are so unique and eye-catching.

My favourite thing about this book is that it doesn't only focus on Dolly's career, but also her humanitarian and social impact on modern America, and how she used her fame and status to improve the lives of women and children. Dolly was/is still an absolutely pioneer in the industry and this is a heartwarming ode to her.

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Fun illustrations and a glowing overview of Dolly’s illustrious career. I do think that the title/series title was slightly misleading because the vocabulary in the book is fairly elevated, whereas it is marketed as a “baby biography.,” which I know now refers to the size of the book not the intended audience. That having been said, it was a fun and breezy read that will prove engaging to children.

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As a toddler mom and music lover, I was excited to read this book about Dolly Parton. It’s packed with interesting facts about her career—many of which I didn’t know myself. For parents, it’s definitely informative.

However, I don’t think this book is suitable for toddlers. The writing is too complex, and there’s simply too much information for young children to process.
My 3-year-old isn’t interested in award nominations or the names of TV shows Dolly appeared on.
These details aren’t relatable or engaging for little ones.

I would have preferred a simpler writing style, with more focus on Dolly’s personal life and childhood, presented in a way that kids can connect with.

The artwork is adorable and brings the pages to life with bright, cheerful colors.

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While targeting a young audience of readers, this colorful, informative book can be read and enjoyed by any age. There's a lot to like here. First, the illustrations are bright and charming as they show a sort of cartoon, or even coloring-bookish style Dolly throughout her career. I definitely liked the fact that her beloved butterflies are scattered throughout, giving children an extra thing to look for.

While this hardly covers new ground for long time fans, it's a well-done, nicely organized recap of the highlights. Nor does it focus strictly on her music. While that is certainly highlighted, it also mentions her many, many efforts throughout her career to help others. As a former teacher, I definitely loved the emphasis on the Imagination Library that has put books in the hands of millions who otherwise might not get that opportunity, not to mention her efforts to help lower the drop-out rate. Of course, you'll find the usual, all presented in a short, easily understood manner with lots of color (and butterflies). Song titles are often highlighted with background info and many of her awards are listed, too, as well as her film career. Each page/section is illustrated.

Bottom line, even for this long past "little one" reader status, I enjoyed this recap of the life and significance of the one and only Dolly Parton. Thanks for making this book available #CiderHillPress - #ApplesaucePress for those who are going to have the pleasure of discovering her and getting to know her for the first time. Hope they get to visit Dollywood some day for real.

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Very informative book! Loved to read it and learned a lot of things I didn't know about Dolly Parton!

Thank you to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for the ARC.

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This biography is such a fun overview of Dolly Parton's life and contributions to music and culture. The illustrations are darling and the author chose the perfect snippets of Dolly's achievements to share. This book would be fun for any of Dolly's many fans!

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As both an elementary school teacher and a mom to a child who loves biographies, I found this colorful book on Dolly Parton to be a fabulous introduction to one of the most iconic figures in music and culture. The book strikes a great balance—offering detailed information about Dolly’s life and career while keeping the text interesting and accessible for young readers. It’s perfect for kids who enjoy nonfiction or are curious about pop stars. This would make a wonderful gift or great addition to any child’s personal library or classroom collection.

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