By Matthew Cordell
New York : Neal Porter Books / Holiday House, 2026. Informational.
Starman: The Cosmic Voyage of David Bowie is an exciting introduction to the evolving musical styles of the iconic singer. Far from a rigid, cut-and-dry biography, this book by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell serves as a dreamy homage that structures David Bowie’s life as a literal galactic journey. Young readers are introduced to Bowie right on the front cover as a star, with each of its five points illustrated in a different medium to represent the key periods in his musical voyage. Cordell utilizes a signature scratchy ink line and informative narrative to take readers through Bowie’s ever-transforming career emphasizing how each aesthetic leap allowed Bowie to stay true to his inner artistic spirit.
This book is a great choice for early readers and budding audiophiles. It is written in a simple question and answer format and delivers a powerful message about the freedom to seek, to dare, and to continuously redefine oneself. It includes a curated playlist at the back, complete with information about the instrumentation and genre choices for each song. Overall, an inspiring look at the icon's career highlights in an accessible and imaginative way.
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