“Bold, audacious, in a word, bodacious …” A joyful picture book biography introduces Sister Rosetta Tharpe and celebrates her singular musical talent, apparent from the time she was young. She started out playing guitar and singing gospel in church in a small Arkansas town as a child. “Little girl. Big guitar.” When her family moved to Chicago, Rosetta sang wherever her mother, a preacher, spread the gospel. As a young adult, Rosetta expanded her repertoire and her reach. “Mixing it up with beats from Gospel’s / Cousin Boogie-Woogie, / Cousin Jazz, / Cousin Swing, / Cousin the big, bad Blues” she sang and played in nightclubs. Eventually, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was making records, singing on the radio and TV, and touring the country and internationally. She was also inspiring younger musicians, who were “Diggin’ your licks, / Coppin’ your style.” An author’s note explains that Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s performances—an impassioned blend of distinctive guitar playing, vocal interpretation, and dynamic moves—influenced music across many genres, from rock-and-roll to the blues, gospel, country, and R&B; and influenced other iconic performers, such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Johnny Cash. The note, accompanied by a timeline, also includes details about her personal life and more about her career. The bright, bold, wonderfully composed illustrations are a perfect pairing with the smart, spirited text in this dazzling account. (Ages 7-10)