Scott Joplin: King of Ragtime (Inspiring Lives) - Softcover

The most famous and influential figure in ragtime is the focus of this swift biography, part of the Inspiring Lives series. The narrative, with one or two sentences per page, traces Joplin from his boyhood, where he first learned the banjo, to getting acquainted with the piano, and finally to his perch as the “King of Ragtime.” While the series purports to show how influential figures overcame obstacles on the way to greatness, there are few if any details in this vein. In fact, the back-cover copy has more information about hardship (“Scott Joplin was the son of an ex-slave”) than anything found inside, which stretches only so far to say, “Scott had to work very hard. He played in many different places.” Still, there is certainly a place for extremely basic biographies for the most struggling of readers, and the crisp photos, straightforward text, and accessible musical hook may be just the thing to lure such children. Others in the series focus on such luminaries as Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, and Kathleen Battle. Grades 2-4. --Ian Chipman