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    Blues with a Butter Knife

    The Unstoppable Music of CeDell Davis

    Author Jason Peterson
    Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
    Ebook
    Astra Publishing House | Calkins Creek
    On sale Sep 08, 2026 | 40 Pages | 9781662681028
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    Young CeDell Davis learns to play the blues unlike anyone else—with his guitar upside down and a butterknife in his hand—and becomes a legendary musician.

    Renowned Black illustrator R. Gregory Christie brings the blues legend to life in this nonfiction picture book for ages 7–10.

    For young CeDell Davis, the blues cut straight to his heart. He wanted to play, but he had no instrument. He became an inventor: nailing wire and a rusty barrel ring to the side of his house so he could jam all day.

    When he finally got a real guitar, CeDell played better than ever–but when he was about 10 years old, his body grew weak. After years spent battling polio in the hospital, he was finally well enough to come home and dust off his guitar. But he couldn’t play it. Polio had weakened his left, fretting hand and stiffened his right, strumming hand. Turning his guitar upside down and grabbing a butterknife from the kitchen, CeDell invented a whole new way to play the blues—a way that would one day get him up on stage, jamming with his musical idols.
    Jason Peterson is a music journalist and former contributing writer for The Onion News Network. Blues with a Butter Knife is his first picture book. He is originally from the Chicago area but now lives in Lafayette, Louisiana. Visit jason-peterson.com. View titles by Jason Peterson
    R. Gregory Christie is the award-winning illustrator of over fifty children's books, including The Palm of My Heart: Poetry by African American Children, edited by Davida Adedjouma, which won a Coretta Scott King Honor for illustration, and Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth, which was selected as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. He lives in Decatur, Georgia, where he also owns and operates a bookstore that sells autographed children's books. Visit rgregorychristie.com. View titles by R. Gregory Christie
    “It makes my heart so happy to see this book! I met CeDell in my mid-20s when I didn’t know the first thing about the blues. But his sound floored me and his spirit had an even greater impact on me. One of my mentors, Col. Bruce Hampton, turned us on to CeDell. We couldn’t believe our ears! Then we met him! Then we even got to play with him! Aside from the total musical wonder we experienced, the thing that honestly struck me the hardest was that CeDell was always lifting everyone else's spirits. His voice and guitar would also heal you for sure. He was a singular human being.”—Oteil Burbridge, two-time Grammy Award-winning bassist

    “CeDell's life and music crackled and popped like an old 78 RPM record. As this book beautifully illustrates, his story was one of both loss and joy. Which is, of course, the story of the blues.”—Roger Stolle, Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art store, Clarksdale, MS

    About

    Young CeDell Davis learns to play the blues unlike anyone else—with his guitar upside down and a butterknife in his hand—and becomes a legendary musician.

    Renowned Black illustrator R. Gregory Christie brings the blues legend to life in this nonfiction picture book for ages 7–10.

    For young CeDell Davis, the blues cut straight to his heart. He wanted to play, but he had no instrument. He became an inventor: nailing wire and a rusty barrel ring to the side of his house so he could jam all day.

    When he finally got a real guitar, CeDell played better than ever–but when he was about 10 years old, his body grew weak. After years spent battling polio in the hospital, he was finally well enough to come home and dust off his guitar. But he couldn’t play it. Polio had weakened his left, fretting hand and stiffened his right, strumming hand. Turning his guitar upside down and grabbing a butterknife from the kitchen, CeDell invented a whole new way to play the blues—a way that would one day get him up on stage, jamming with his musical idols.

    Author

    Jason Peterson is a music journalist and former contributing writer for The Onion News Network. Blues with a Butter Knife is his first picture book. He is originally from the Chicago area but now lives in Lafayette, Louisiana. Visit jason-peterson.com. View titles by Jason Peterson
    R. Gregory Christie is the award-winning illustrator of over fifty children's books, including The Palm of My Heart: Poetry by African American Children, edited by Davida Adedjouma, which won a Coretta Scott King Honor for illustration, and Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth, which was selected as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. He lives in Decatur, Georgia, where he also owns and operates a bookstore that sells autographed children's books. Visit rgregorychristie.com. View titles by R. Gregory Christie

    Praise

    “It makes my heart so happy to see this book! I met CeDell in my mid-20s when I didn’t know the first thing about the blues. But his sound floored me and his spirit had an even greater impact on me. One of my mentors, Col. Bruce Hampton, turned us on to CeDell. We couldn’t believe our ears! Then we met him! Then we even got to play with him! Aside from the total musical wonder we experienced, the thing that honestly struck me the hardest was that CeDell was always lifting everyone else's spirits. His voice and guitar would also heal you for sure. He was a singular human being.”—Oteil Burbridge, two-time Grammy Award-winning bassist

    “CeDell's life and music crackled and popped like an old 78 RPM record. As this book beautifully illustrates, his story was one of both loss and joy. Which is, of course, the story of the blues.”—Roger Stolle, Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art store, Clarksdale, MS

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