Starman
Written and Illustrated by Matthew Cordell
★"[A] masterful combination of art and text. The text is elevated by the author’s use of questioning at the beginning of each section. Readers are asked to ponder their own place in the cosmos and in the world of creativity, encouraging a connection to Bowie as well as the process of artistic expression. The illustrations vary from highly colorful to sparse while capturing Bowie’s journey as he repeatedly reinvented himself in his efforts to honor his creative soul. . . . Expressive illustrations and engaging, informative text make this an exemplary picture book biography." —School Library Journal, Starred Review
"Reinvention is the engine driving Caldecott Medalist Cordell’s ardent, shape-shifting picture book biography of David Bowie. . . . Early spreads show the Little Prince–like “traveler” flying through a hand-hatched purple cosmos that practically hums on the page. . . . Atmospheric text then sketches the vibe of each period more so than the substance of a life, the result reading like a fanzine tribute. Though Cordell’s signature scratchy ink line remains a constant, every section earns its own visual look: fluorescent flamboyance represents Ziggy Stardust, while the Thin White Duke (a period when Bowie “spiraled out of control”) is all noirish grays and blacks. A reverent, restless paean to an artist “forever facing and embracing the change,” this honors its subject by refusing to sit still." —Publishers Weekly