Skip to main content

Member Reviews

Great biography for pre-k-1 or as a shared reading experience with smaller kids. It’s organized well with highlight feature and childlike illustrations. Very accessible and will make a great series! Dolly Parton is a strong start for entertainer/singer category. I truly hope this series comes out in hardback and not just board book- it will be a great way to introduce biographies to littles, and board books will be hard to “sell” to kids in a library who are olde than pre-k.

Was this review helpful?

First off, Dolly Parton is a queen.

The art in this book is sooo good! It's whimsical and perfect for young readers. While obviously Dolly has accomplished a lot, this didn't even include all her philanthropic efforts. She's an excellent role model and I'm glad to see a book sing her praises.

Was this review helpful?

A totally charming read.

Baby Biographies: Dolly Parton I was given in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

Interestingly, the story of the Coat of Many Colours was not covered. Instead, this is a whistle-stop look at Dolly's life. The illustrations are fantastic.

One star lost because Coat of Many Colours encapsulates Dolly's life. Otherwise, a masterpiece for young children learning English!

Was this review helpful?

I loved the illustrations! I do think this book gave some good info about Dolly. I would happily gift this to a baby girl so that she knows girls can rule the world.

I do think this would mostly be fun for parents to read to the babies, but I'd still love to have it on my shelf.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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

Was this review helpful?

*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.

Was this review helpful?

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

Was this review helpful?

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!

Was this review helpful?

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

Was this review helpful?

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!

Was this review helpful?

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!

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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!!

Was this review helpful?

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!!!

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?