A review by kitsuneheart
Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews

5.0

I'm really impressed with the artwork of this book! The large majority is done in ink and watercolor, but the artist didn't simply draw things and call it a day. On most of the pages, each individual component of the drawing--people, instruments, backgrounds, and so on--were drawn on their own, and then cut out and put together in a collage. It has an interesting effect, with things seeming to not QUITE fit together with perspective, making them instead pop out. Some the collage pieces also include pictures taken from other print materials, mostly for large crowds (so the people in the crowd look more realistic than those in the foreground!) or for patterns, like wallpaper or cloth. The patterns in particular remind me of the pattern-pasting techniques used in manga.

The story itself is good, as well, though after raving about the artwork, I'm not sure what I could say to match! It tells the childhood of Troy Andrews, including how he got his nickname, "Trombone Shorty." The story emphasizes the importance of practicing to hone your skills, as well as believing in yourself.

A must for every child who loves music. Make sure you have some of Troy Andrew's music on hand to play after you're done reading, and perhaps don't read this for bedtime. Your kid is going to be amped to make-believe their own Mardi Gras parade!