Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten
By Laura Veirs
The Story
A young left-handed girl picks up her brother's guitar, flips it upside down to play it her own way, and by age eleven has written "Freight Train," a song the world would come to know.
Why It's Special
For the kid who insists on doing things their own backwards way, Libba is proof that the unconventional path can lead somewhere extraordinary.
- Big idea: Talent doesn't wait for the right circumstances — it finds a way, even upside down and backwards.
- Vibes: Warm, musical, and quietly triumphant, with the steady rhythm of a life built one determined step at a time.
Perfect For Kids Who
- are working on sticking with something hard
- enjoy stories about real musicians and artists
- like to do things their own way
- respond well to quiet, inspiring true stories
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: How did Elizabeth Cotten figure out how to play a guitar that wasn't made for her?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever had to find your own way of doing something because the usual way didn't work for you?
- Imagination: What do you think it felt like to write your very own song at age eleven, like Elizabeth did with "Freight Train"?
- Feelings & empathy: Why do you think Elizabeth kept practicing even though her guitar was strung the wrong way for her?
