![]() ![]() Q: RESPECT is illustrated by Frank Morrison. Children who can’t yet read can join in by spelling out those key words. That device not only mimics Aretha's hit but also makes the poem interactive. Those words, such as G-I-F-T-E-D and G-R-O-O-V-E, evoke Aretha’s greatness. ![]() A single word-spelled out and hyphenated-introduces each stanza. The text is composed of rhyming triplets-all ending in the long "e" sound. RESPECT is a biographical tribute that riffs on Aretha’s signature song. Q: How does writing about a musician and the nature of her songs impact the way you focus on rhythm and spelling in your text? The Civil Rights movement was underway, and when protesters were jailed, Franklin quietly paid their bail money. ![]() We bonded over songs like “Ain’t No Way”, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, and of course “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”, which was an anthem of the 1960s. My father was an Aretha fan and had a half dozen of her albums. ![]() Q: What inspired you to write about Aretha Franklin in your new picture book, RESPECT? What do you think people would be most surprised to know about her?Īretha Franklin’s passing in 2018 reminded me how much I loved her music. Introduce Carole Boston Weatherford to your readers with this special Q&A that focuses on RESPECT. ![]()
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