Product Description
The successful country-western star discusses her life, including her first visit to Nashville at age eighteen, marriage to the private Carl, difficult partnership with Porter Wagoner, business ventures, and personal relationships. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Best book in my collection!
Got books from Stephen King to Anne Rice but this lady stole the show. Excellent read!!! I have many nice books but this one reaches all the places of the heart.

Dolly my life


Lovedthis book,it was great reading ,and I love Dolly

"The Iconic Dolly Parton"
In "My Life and Other Unfinished Business" Dolly Parton has finally released her memoirs. Released in the fall of 1994 and eventually landing on the New York Times Best Seller List for over two months, Dolly wrote the entire book herself unlike many celebrities who use ghost writers to write their life story. Dolly wanted to write the book alone because who other than Miss Parton could write about her humble upbringing in east Tennessee eventually becoming one of the world's most well-known and richest celebrities. In "My Life..." Dolly takes us back to her poor upbringing in Sevierville, a small town in the foothills of the great Smoky Mountains. Dirt poor Dolly had a dream when she was a little girl: to become rich and famous. Upon graduating from high school Dolly boarded a bus bound for Nashville with only her songs that she wrote and a bunch of dirty cloths for companionship. While in Nashville Dolly hit the pavemenet trying to snag a record deal, but everyone turned her down. After signing with Monument Records, Porter Wagoner discovered her, signed her to RCA, and the rest is history. Selling over 100 million records as of 2010, Dolly not only became a huge country music act, but became well known in pop circles. Dolly takes us behind the glamour of the hit albums and the great movies she did, dealing with the many hardships that have plagued her. Here she discusses the terrible relationship she and Wagoner had as they fought constantly over the way she was to dress, the way she sang, if she could write, who would publish the songs she did write, eventually getting to a point where they disagreed over inate details. Dolly eventually left Porter to venture out on her own, signing with Hollywood agent Sandy Gallin who found the song "Here You Come Again" for her. After winning the prestigious Entertainer of the Year Award from the Country Music Association in 1978, Wagoner would sue Dolly for a whopping $3,000,000 citing he owned a sizeable portion of her income because he had made her a star. Dolly details that painful lawsuit and how it nearly ruined her financially. She also talks about, for the very first time in print, her breakdown in 1982, overweight, unhealthy, and ready to commit suicide. A fascinating read, Dolly has publicly stated the one regret she has in her life is ever writing this book, as she felt it was written at a time when she was still too young. Perhaps she will sit down and write another, but for fans and historians of singers this is a wonderful place to start to obtain info on the greatest female singer that ever lived. Currently there is talk Dolly is in the planning stages to bring her life story to the big screen.

Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business
I love this book. Actually I read it a few years ago and gave it away and decided I wanted to read it again and keep it forever. Dolly is so awesome and so honest, very very good read!

A True Diamond
As you would expect (if you're a fan of her songwriting) Dolly gives you the picture of her life in an honest, straightforward and sometimes amusing manner.Through tales of her own misdeeds and beliefs while growing up in a family that she admits didn't always play well together, she looks at her memories and can see how they shaped her into the performer that she always wanted to be.The little girl who loved to dream, make up her own songs and read everything she could get her hands on did get to be the center of attention as a much-loved entertainer, a shrewd and proficient businesswoman and a ceaseless humanitarian.
But through it all she remained the caring, considerate person she had been raised to be.The rough little stone truly did prove to be a shining diamond; sparkling, tough as nails and valuable to the fans who love her for the beauty that shines from within.There's no one like Dolly! ... Read more

Product Description

Winter is coming to Tennessee and there's no money to buy a new coat, so a little girl's mama sews one for her out of rags.The little girl wears it to school proudly, and when the other children laugh, she gives them a quick lesson about what it means to be rich.Judith Sutton's beautiful paintings bring one of Dolly Parton's best-loved songs to life. "The heartfelt verses are imbued with the same genuine, infectiously likeable spirit Parton herself projects."'Publishers Weekly.

Customer Reviews (23)

"Dolly's Story Told"
In 1969 while sitting on the Porter Wagoner tour bus, Dolly Parton sat down and started humming a song to herself. "Back through the years I go wondrin' once again. Back to the seasons of my youth. I recall a box of rags someone gave us. And how my mama put the rags to use. They were rags of many colors. And every piece was small..." so began the beginning of one of Dolly's most famous songs as well as her personal favorite of all the 3000 she has ever written. That song would solidify Dolly as one of the biggest stars in Nashville and become a huge hit for her upon its release in the autumn of 1971.

In 1994 Dolly decided to release the story of her "Coat of Many Colors" in storybook form so children and adults could enjoy the message that she writes about. The story is about a little girl who has nothing and how her mother wanted her to feel special even though they had no money. However, upon arriving at school the other classmates mocked and poked fun at the coat and the little girl. That true-life incident had a profound effect upon Dolly as she has never forgot the incident, and it was only when she sat down and wrote the song that she realized writing was a very therapeutic way to release one's hurt and anger. The message is clear: it doesn't matter how much or how little money one has: it is one's love for God and love for their family that is truely important.

The "Coat of Many Colors" book is beautifully drawn as well with illustrations by Judith Sutton.

Dolly has written another children's book called "I Am A Rainbow" that was released in 2009 and deals with children's moods. Pick that up too.

My fourth grade class loves it!
I used this book in my fourth grade Reading class and they loved it! One boy who has a hard time keeping interested perked up when he heard who the author was because he had visited Dollywood. Another girl went home and wrote Dolly an email to find out if she still has the coat! A good book about character.

Coat of Many Colors
This is a lovely book for children and even adult fans of Dolly Parton.The book uses the lyrics to Ms Parton's song, Coat of Many Colors, to tell and illustrate the story.

Only poor if you choose to be!
Coat of Many Colors is Dolly Parton's most autobiographical song, and it is beautifully transformed into this splendid children's book that families will love to share.

Dolly needed a coat, and her mother sewed her one made of a box of donated rags. As she sewed, she told her the story of Joseph from the Bible and his Coat of Many Colors, and she taught her to see the value of what is really important, despite the taunts of others too blind to see the real truth.

This is a gorgeous book worth its weight in gold!

Nice book
We rented this book from the library and my daughter cried when we had to give it back.. So we purchased it.It is exactly like the song and the pictures are really cute. ... Read more

Product Description
Have you ever been tickled pink? Green with envy? Or just plain blue? Well, it’s good to know that we all have a rainbow of feelings inside.

Beloved music legend Dolly Parton provides children with a fun way to talk about their feelings in this colorful, upbeat picture book. And by understanding their own feelings, they can learn to respect the feelings of others.

I Am a Rainbow will encourage children of all ages to acknowledge their feelings and take control. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Love it
I really enjoyed the book. The local library staff and myself have really enjoyed the book. IT is great for kids and for adults alike. The kids and parents can associate with this book like no one can imagine.

Colorful book for parents and children of all ages!
Dolly's book is terrific!It teaches children (and reminds adults) that people come in all different shades and with all sorts of different feelings.It is an entertaining read and a fun way to teach about emotions and diversity without being the least bit preachy!It is a book I buy for all the children in my life!

"Dolly's Second Children's Book"
"Dolly Parton's "I Am A Rainbow" is an excellent children's book filled with a beautiful story about children's different moods and why they have such feelings. It is told in a very simple manner and it is filled with beautiful illustrations of colors and drawings. The book encompasses 23 pages and both Dolly and illustrator Heather Sheffield should be applauded for the hard work they have put into the book. Kids of all ages will enjoy "I Am A Rainbow".
Dolly has also written another children's book called "Coat of Many Colors" that is based on her famous song.

Love this book.
I just found this at the bookstore and read it to my 6 year old daughter, we both really enjoyed it. My daughter liked the rhyming and pretty colors of the pictures and also the discussion of feelings.

Oh dear--make it stop
I love Dolly Parton.
I really do.
But, I do not love this didactic and very very ugly book. ... Read more

Product Description
An updated edition of the first new and substantial biography for over 15 years. Stephen Miiller goes behind the larger-than-life image to find out what really makes Dolly Parton tick.What emerges is a unique portrait of a strong woman who came to town looking like a burlesque hooker but who took control of her life, her music and her career with resolute determination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Smart Purchase
My mother is a huge Dolly fan.I put together a basket of some of Dolly's CD's and movies to surprise my mom for her birthday.I saw this book and couldn't resist.My mother absolutely loved her gifts and thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Looking at An American Original!
Think what you will of Dolly Parton but she is definitely an American original. Born into abject poverty in Tennessee, she had the soul of a poet and vocal cords to match. Her driving ambition and saavy helped her climb the entertainment ladder and become a major figure not just in country music but in American life. Stephen Miller details the life and career of this smart, talented and altogether unique woman in this 2008 Omnibus Press release.

In some 380-odd pages, author Miller examines all aspects of the Dolly phenomenon. He does a fine job of relating her early life, her marriage to Carl Dean, her country music breakthrough with Porter Wagoner, her solo career and subsequent success in music, movies and other venues. Like certain other celebrities - Johnny Carson comes to mind - Parton has created a bubble of privacy over certain parts of her life. This means, among other things, that close friends and business asssociates would not talk to Miller nor the lady herself. For a 'Tennessee hillbilly,' Parton really has done an amazing job of manipulating the media machine over the past 40 years and continues to do so. And, because of that, Miller's portrait of Dolly Rebecca Parton, while insightful and fascinating, is incomplete.

In the end, the reader feels admiration for Parton who has created so many beautiful songs, touched so many hearts and been so successful in the music business yer has endeared herself to legions of fans. She's easily one of the most successful self-made women in America. Yet, you wonder about the price of that success. She offers no apologies about feeling the need for and having various plastic surgery procedures. Viewing photographs of her over the years however leaves a feeling of sadness. In her early days Parton was a lovely woman, a natural beauty. Now her face is an advertisement of the dangers of plastic surgery. Was all that pain worth it?

In any case, SMART BLONDE is an informed and insightful look at an American musical treasure. Long after people stop talking about her wigs or breasts, they'll remember the touching songs sung by that one-in-a-million voice. Recommended.

A dissection of what drives Mrs. Parton through her life
Blonde has rarely ever equaled smarts. "Smart Blonde" is a brand-new biography of the legendary singer and business woman. The Nashville belle made her fortune and fame all by herself, despite looking like her IQ was about the same as her shoe size. A remarkable story of a woman who has it all, brains, beauty, and fortune, and how she made it to the point solely by her own merits and no place else. Touching on the singer's personal life, relationships, "Smart Blonde" is a dissection of what drives Mrs. Parton through her life.

Dolly's dreams started when she woke up ...
Little girls often dream of fame and glory at night, but Dolly had bigger dreams than most.It must have been difficult to dream when life itself was almost crowded out by eleven siblings, a father who enjoyed taking a nip now and then and a mother who certainly had little time to nurture the fantasy life of a precocious youngster. Sevierville County,Tennessee wasn't exactly a thriving metropolis and no one was going to come knocking at the Parton's door to listen to a little whippersnapper sing her heart out, but there were people who did believe in her and one of them was her uncle, Bill Owens.Dolly's dreams would take her far beyond the Smoky Mountains and, as she later maintained, "her dreams started when she woke up."

Stephen Miller, author of the mesmerizing new biography of Dolly, Smart Blonde:Dolly Parton, struggled to look beyond the glitz and the gaudy to discover an intelligent and extremely talented woman.As a young girl many children shunned her and their parents, naturally, didn't want their children hanging around with someone with such loose morals.Childhood wasn't easy for her.As she later claimed, "I was the most popular girl in the school for all the wrong reasons. . .I had a foxy personality."She neglected to add the word "brains," but the combination of all her assets later dropped her into the world of country music like a ten-ton atom bomb.

After meeting her future husband Carl Dean and the Wishy-Washy Laundromat her life started moving faster than the spin cycle on a Maytag.Her talent began to blossom and Dolly began to leave them all in the dust, including the talented Porter Wagoner.Not all that glitters is gold and this intensely private woman began to experience some problems associated with fame.Why did Porter want to sue her?Was there anything to the rumor that her pal Judy Ogle was more than just an assistant?Did her purported abandonment of her family lead to animosity later on?The infamous sister Stella had a few things to say about her sister. . .

According to Steve Buckingham, "If you like Dolly you have to take the deep thinking Dolly, the great musician Dolly, the incredible songwriting Dolly, along with the glitzy Dolly, the corny Dolly, the showgirl; I mean it's all her."

As a Dolly Parton neophyte, I found this book extremely fascinating, well written and found myself thinking if this book were an authorized biography it would be an excellent choice.Miller was able to glean tidbits from Dolly's sister Stella that would interest even the most skeptical know-it-all.The star stalkers of the world may find little in this book they don't already claim to know, but the average reader will come away with a sense of awe, wonder and respect for one of the century'smost talented musical icons.My own journey through the book was complimented and enjoyed by several trips to youtube to watch numerous clips of Dolly throughout the years.I used to race quickly between radio dials to avoid country music, but artists like Dolly Parton gave pause to this habit and books like this one can make anyone stop and take note.This book is well worth the money and will provide many hours of affordable entertainment.

Deb Fowler - Roundtable Reviews

It's out there
I bought it at Borders two days ago.So far, it's quite interesting although I think some people have a beef with poor little Dolly.Like her sister, Stella!LOLDolly's autobiography was very funny.I don't know if this one will be as humorous.So far, the author is basically just referencing things she said in her book.But in this tome, we do get to hear what others think about her rather than simply what she thinks about herself.Bad thing is we won't really know if their comments are fair.Oh, well! That's show biz! It shouldn't hurt Dolly's bank account too much.She is, after all, not a dummy.I'll come back with my final comments when I'm done.I know you can't wait for that. ... Read more

Product Description

Dolly Parton once said," If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one." In the bustling city of Atlanta, four very different ladies take her advice to heart and open a catering business that will cater to them—successful, independent women who put their families first.

But flouting the traditions and expectations of Southern society turns out to be more complicated than they ever anticipated. Even as the pressure of running a business bonds them together, the realities of managing real life threaten to tear the whole thing apart. As financial woes, personal hurts, and family troubles test the strength of their business and their friendship, they discover that sisterly support and lots of heartfelt prayer just might be the only way to survive.

Full of sass, grit, and good old-fashioned faith, How Dolly Parton Saved My Life is a hilarious and poignant look at friendship with a distinctly Southern flair.

Customer Reviews (9)

Blah
Just add my name to Erica's post, because I agree with everything she said.What a waste of time and money.

Couldn't read further than page 50
I started this book last night, but honestly, the dialogue in the book was so bad I really couldn't read further than page 50 or so.I may have not given it much of a chance, but i didn't think i could read much further given how much I was already rolling my eyes...

Hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world
I have yet to find anyone else who is as amazed as I am that there is a Dolly Parton song for my every heartache andtriumph.No matter the situation, Dolly has been there already and wrote a song about it: new lust that might be love, humiliation by a lover, or beating back the blues.So, I adored the character who quotes Dolly likes she's Dali Lama.

Other than the Dolly-adoration, I'm not sure I can recommend this book to a non-Dollyite.It has a limited audience: southern christian women trying to balance work and family.Nevertheless, if you are in that boat, HDPSML is cheaper than therapy, wine or chocolate.

Read this book, y'all!
I'm not from the South, but loved this book.It is full of fun people, and has real heart.I saw a little bit of myself in each of the four main characters, and the family relationships would resonate with anyone.Not to mention it gave me new appreciation for the wisdom of Dolly!I'm sure you will enjoy it, too ...

Great beach read!
I took this book with me on my summer vacation and absolutely loved it!With a single mom, two married ladies and a single gal, How Dolly Parton Saved My Life has a character everyone can relate to. Definitely pick up this book and throw it in your beach bag! ... Read more

Product Description
This engaging collection of stories is an intimate look at Dolly Parton's family, told by her oldest sister, Willadeene. Rare family photos included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Such A Talented Family of Singers.
Dolly had a hard life growing up in the wilds of East Tennessee; she started out poor and indeed did have a 'coat of many colors' as her children's book explained.She was born at home like me. She wore hand-me-downs in the backwoods of Sevier County where my paternal grandfather's people lived. She's funny. Coming from the country, it took some doing and lots of help to get where she is today. She has re-invented her personality through the years from the young lovesick girl who write 'I Will Always Love You' to Porter Wagoner. He gave her the first 'big' break, singing on his show in Nashville.

Dolly had been on local talent shows in Knox County, Cas Walker's for country music. She migrated to Middle Tennessee to sing on the Grand Ole Opry where she met my friend, Hal Durham, who was manager of that fabulous old show on radio, television and live. I once attended at the Ryman and he gave Zachary and me a backstage tour.

In Nashville and in the movies, she had a good life but suffered some setbacks and depression. The two photo secitons show how little Dolly the girl was transformed into Dolly the bombshell blonde. She is the richest person in this area as she owns Dollywood, the major attraction for people from all the states who visit the Great Smoky Mountains and from other countries.

In her 'thanks' section, she included her favorite makeup, Revlon staff, and favorite lingerie shop, Frederick's of Hollywood. She includes Terry Morrow, local entertainment columnist for the News Sentinel daily Knoxville newspaper, and Ligiea Saveanu (whoever she is -- I was going to name my daughter Ligeia). From the Grand Ole Opry, she includes Archie Campbell from the famous Civil War area in East Tennessee, Bull's Gap, Grant Turner, and Bud Wendell, WSM announcer. Game show hosts were Bob Eubanks and Huell Howser; how could she leave out Wink Martindale and Pat Sajacks, both Tennesseans? For some reason, she included the Knoxville Democrat Party chairman, Jim Gray, Al Gore, Jim Sasser, and Sandra Fulton (wife of Dick Fulton of Nashville).

Movie stars included Kevin Costner, Jane Fonda, and Delta Burke, while singers were Mac Davis, Billy Ray Syrus, Whitney Houtston and Reba McEntire. She has Johnny Carson, Eddie Hill, and many many others -- too many to mention.

Like most successful people, she has humility when it comes to feeling indebted to others for her success. She has talent galore, and I wish Dolly could live forever. She will -- in the figure on Sevier County Courthouse Lawn, as a young country girl. Dolly is everything to everybody.

One of the best Writers I have ever come in contact with!!
Willadeene Parton is a very wonderful and great writer.She is not only sucessful at writing about her family but she is a great poet and cook as well.Her cook books are Awesome if you are into some great southern cooking.I have ate some of her meals in her cook book prepared by none other than herself, I used to be her Personal Assistant, and let me tell you, she cooks better than anyone I know.The Books are a great Pleasure to read and the cook books are just as much fun.Not just coming from a Friend but form a True Fan.....

The tales of a unique family come to life in an amusing book
Originally, this book was released as "In the Shadow of a Song" in 1986. I read it then, and I read it again and enjoyed it as much as a second helping of grits and gravy and country ham. Brandon B., Tampa, FL

I loved it.
I have read this book front to back three times!!I was born in Appalachia and have lived in the hills and hollows of East Tennessee all my life.I related to the deep family roots, and loving atmosphere their family had growing up.Willadeene captured not only their family spirit but, the pain, laughter, and triumphs of the Appalahcian people.

Great job on your book, Willadeen. I love you!
Great reading . This is a very special book about a very special family. I promise you'll love it ... Read more

Product Description
30 songs from this iconic country singer-songwriter, including: Coat of Many Colors * Do I Ever Cross Your Mind * Heartbreaker * Here You Come Again * I Will Always Love You * Islands in the Stream * Jolene * Joshua * Love Is like a Butterfly * Nine to Five * Please Don't Stop Loving Me * Tennessee Homesick Blues * Tomorrow Is Forever * Two Doors Down * Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' like That * Yellow Roses * and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The photographs are excellent and truely catch Dolly's image
This wonderful coffe-table book' s focus is the photos in it. The photos are wonderful. These photographs tell Dolly's life story in their own right. However the wrter Judith Mahoney has written in a book report style. Much of her writing is filled with factual errors about Dolly's life. Also Judith seems to use much of Dolly's autobiography for her writings and this makes a boring read, if you have already read Dolly's book. I gave it a 10 because the photos are excellent. Without the photos it would have gotten a 5. ... Read more

Product Description
Moved by the tragic events of September 11th, country legend Dolly Parton drew from her gospel background and wrote some of the most poignant songs in her career for this album. This matching folio contains arrangements to all her new songs including a creative rendition of Led Zeppelin's rock anthem ""Stairway to Heaven."" A must-have for all Dolly Parton fans. Titles are: Dagger Through the Heart
* Halos and Horns
* Hello God
* I'm Gone
* If
* If Only
* John Daniel
* Not for Me
* Raven Dove
* Shattered Image
* Stairway to Heaven
* Sugar Hill
* These Old Bones
* What a Heartache. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Dolly Parton Halos & Horns
Great CD from a even greater lady. Thank you Dolly for sharing you lyrics, being and divine voice. ... Read more

Product Description
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris Trio is a piano/vocal/cords book focusing on trio harmonies that are notated as sung. ... Read more

Product Description
“I’ve always been a writer. My songs are the door to every dream I’ve ever had and every success I’ve ever achieved,” says Dolly Parton of her incredible career, which has spanned nearly five decades and is showing no signs of slowing down.

An internationally renowned superstar, the iconic and irrepressible Parton has contributed countless treasures to the world of music entertainment, penning classic songs such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and her mega-hit “I Will Always Love You.” With 1977’s crossover hit “Here You Come Again,” she successfully erased the line between country and pop music without noticeably altering either her music or her image. “I’m not leaving country,” she said at the time, “I’m just taking it with me.”

Making her film debut in the 1980 hit comedy 9 to 5, Dolly earned rave reviews for her performance and an Oscar nomination for writing the title tune, along with her second and third Grammy Awards. Roles in Steel Magnolias, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, and Straight Talk followed, along with two network television series, made for television movies, network and HBO specials, and guest-starring roles in series television. In 2006, Dolly earned her second Oscar nomination for “Travelin’ Thru,” which she wrote for the film Transamerica.

Dolly Parton is the most honored female country performer of all time. Achieving 25 RIAA certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards, she has had 25 songs reach number 1 on the Billboard Country charts, a record for a female artist. She has 41 career top 10 country albums, a record for any artist, and she has 110 career charted singles over the past 40 years. All-inclusive sales of singles, albums, hits collections, paid digital downloads and compilation usage during her Hall of Fame career have reportedly topped a staggering 100 million records world-wide.

She has garnered 7 Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards, 5 Academy of Country Music Awards, 3 American Music Awards and is one of only five female artists to win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award.

Always dreaming and always looking forward, Dolly is busier than ever. Writing the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical version of 9-5, working on various children’s projects, and writing and recording a new album, “Backwoods Barbie,” these projects are just a few of her many interests at the moment. The phenomenon of Dolly Parton continues to flourish, as she remains one of world’s true superstars.
... Read more

Product Description
Dolly Parton, award-winning singer, songwriter, actress and producer, brings her skills to picture books for the first time. Have you ever been tickled pink, green with envy or maybe just plain blue? "I am a Rainbow" is a colorful upbeat picture book that encourages children of all ages to think about their feelings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great children's book
My children loved this book when they were young.I purchased it for my new grandchild.It is one of those stories that a child will ask to be read again and again and will memorize quickly because of the rhymes and amusing story line which will delight.

One of Our Favorite Children's Books!
My daughter loved this book. She loved it to pieces. The last time I saw it, she found it in a box of books I was saving for when her children came over, and she pounced on it (yes, she did!) and said, "Oh, my book!"

And took it home. The covers were off. The front cover long lost.
And at the time that I first began to read it to Melyssa, I think she was about 4, we had three cats that hid in boxes, bags, behind furniture and trees. And we all loved the cats and the book!

My daughter loves this book!
We picked up a much-loved copy of this book at a garage sale this summer for about 10 cents.The text is great and the pictures are adorable, and my daughter (now 20 months) has loved it ever since we watched out cats playing with a box one day and then got it out to read.This last week she has been totally obsessed and wanted it read to her 10,000 times, and now she'll flip through it, "reading": "MY cat--boxes!"

The book reads:

(p1) My cat likes to hide in boxes.

(p2) The cat from France likes to sing and dance.

(p3) But my cat likes to hide in boxes.

(p4) The cat from Spain flew an airplane.
The cat from France likes to sing and dance.

(p5) But my cat likes to hide in boxes.

and so on, for the cats from Norway, Greece, Japan, etcetc.There are about a dozen different cats who do cool stuff, but in the end, "my cat" still likes to hide in boxes.

The only thing I don't like is that the text about the other cats builds up until it's really long near the end, but I just read about the next cat in line and skip it. Then again, my kid is only 20 months and has a short attention span--for an older kid that wouldn't be much of an issue.

I just bought two copies for Christmas presents. :)

Great book for younger kids...
I remember reading this when I was little - I just recently found it in my parents' basement. I brought it in for my kids at school, and it works great. (I'm a music teacher.) We are singing "There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly," and this is the same form, building on what came before it. The kids really loved it and could "read" along with me after the first page. I even had them figure out the rhyme without telling them, and they were really proud that they could do it. I wish it were still in print, but I guess that means I just have to hold tight to my copy of it!

One of my favorites!
This is definitely one of my childhood favorites.It's got good rhyme and rhythm and repetition for kids, which will help them to get familiar with the story.As someone working with kids, I know how much they love when they can memorize the books!I love it, and I will buy it for my kids someday. ... Read more

Product Description
A biography of the singer and composer of country music who has twice won the Country Music Association award and twice been Female Vocalist of the Year. ... Read more

Product Description

Dolly Parton has an enviable record of accomplishment as a performer, songwriter, recording artist, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She has triumphed on Broadway, in the movies, and even with her own theme park. The Words and Music of Dolly Parton probes its subject's unique singing voice and prolific abilities as a songwriter, as well as her impressive business savvy, fearless attitude, and an imagination as towering as the Smoky Mountains among which she grew up.

This book focuses on Parton's most important albums and songwriting style, examining her career from her early days in the east Tennessee mountains through her national television exposure on the Porter Wagoner Show, her crossover success in pop music, and her return to her acoustic/bluegrass roots. In addition, it explores Parton's story songs and characters, the spirituality reflected in her music, and her important collaborations with other artists.

Product Description
Journalist Nash has expanded her earlier biographer of singer Dolly Parton to include the past two decades of her remarkable career, including several Grammy wins and an Oscar nomination, plus the return to her musical roots with her past two albums. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A treasure!
For anyone even slightly fascinated by Dolly (and who ISN'T?), this book givesrare and detailed insights into the life and mind of a true music icon.Ms. Nash shares not only facts and history, but "up close and personal" information gleaned from her own interactions and time spent with Dolly.A rare opportunity to glimpse the life and persona of this musician who continues to grip the music industry throughout the decades...Dolly's ongoing and unrelenting "star status" illustrates her enduring charisma that never ceases to perpetuate the adoration, fondness, and loyalty of fans and the American music scene.
Despite the fact that this republishing of this book reveals relatively limited updates and leaves the reader wanting even MORE, the biography is and remains a classic that stands the test of time...much like Dolly herself!

25 Year Old Book Barely Updated!!
I can't believe this 1978 book has been reprinted exactly as it was 25 years ago with only a tacked on chapter for the last 25 years!!! Not one word from the original book appears to have been changed, thus you get long dead people like Marty Robbins being quoted as if they were still around, even the forward is the same as it was in 1978 comparing Dolly to Farrah Fawcett and Cheryl Tiegs!!! First time readers might think they have fallen into a time warp as the book is written in the present tense much like a magazine article (which made the book dated VERY early on like say 1980). It's pretty shocking to read chapter and chapter on 1977 and 1978 and then bam - one chapter for 1979-2003!!

The book itself wasn't so great even in 1978 - Ms. Nash has a very bad habit of quoting "anonymous insiders" thoroughout the book many of whom make comments that Dolly is making bad career decisions and suggest she is about to mess up her career big time! Even these ridiculous comments were not deleted from this new (sic) edition!! Ms. Nash can be downright catty herself at times, especially to Parton's first biographer who put out a paperback the year before and whom Nash ludricously blames for a lack of participation by the Parton family with her book. (Nash wrote a rather nasty article for WRITER'S DIGEST after her book came out that claimed in essence Dolly tried to sabatoge her book, Ms. Nash fails to make any comments of the kind here in her "update" chapter.)

The repackaging of this old book with a recent cover photo of Dolly must be considered the literary equivalent of all those endless low-budget CD reissues of those very early teenaged tracks of hers like "Letter to Heaven" and "Making Believe" (cheapie productions that don't even sound like her) that are found in dollar stores. Alas, this publisher expects the consumer to cough up quite a pretty penny more than those budget CD companies.

If Alanna Nash wanted to bring this book back into print she should have rewritten it so it would make sense to a 2003 reader, instead it's just an tacky and lazy attempt to make a few extra bucks from the never ending public fascination with the great Dolly Parton!! ... Read more

Product Description
FIRST EDITION STATED 1994 HARDBACK.. SOME MINOR WEAR AND CREASE ON DUST JACKET.TOP OF MIDDLE 100 PAGES STAINED,DOES NOT AFFECT READING.SMALL STAIN INSIDE OF DUST JACKET. OVER ALL A GOOD READING COPY. WE SHIP DAILY... ... Read more

Product Description
A biography of the singer and writer of country music, with emphasis on her childhood and youth. ... Read more