Book description from Goodreads: “French bulldog Billy the Kid was born with an ear for music. And not just any music. He loves barking to the beat of country music! So Billy sets out to Nashville to sing his heart out.

But when he meets some big bullies at the Battle of the Bow-​wows, Billy worries he’s barking up the wrong tree. He’ll need his favorite songs (“Jowlene” and “I Will Pawlways Love You,” of course), a group of scrappy new friends, and his favorite country music star to regain self-​confidence and be the star he always knew he could be.

Written by Dolly Parton with Erica S. Perl and illustrated by MacKenzie Haley, this is a delightful picture book about standing up to people (and dogs) who put you down and finding the drive to achieve your dreams.”

Enjoy this interview with Dolly about her book at Good Morning America.

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/video/dolly-parton-talks-new-childrens-book-billy-kid-98821887

Educational Activities inspired by Billy the Kid Makes it Big:

• Before Reading–From looking at the front cover: 
  • What do you already know about Dolly Parton?
  • Can you predict what the story might be about based on the cover?
  • Who or what is Billy the Kid?
  • What does it mean for someone to “make it big”?
  • How much of a role will music play in this story?
  • How happy does the dog on the cover seem to be?
• After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
  • What was the main conflict in the story, and how was it resolved?
  • How much did you enjoy the puns (“ruff day” and “true muttropolitan” etc.)?
  • What did you enjoy most about the French bulldog, Billy the Kid?
  • What lesson do you think the author wanted readers to learn from the story?
  • Which part of the story was your favorite, and why?
  • How did the illustrations help to convey the story’s message and enhance the overall reading experience?
  • Were there any moments in the story that surprised you? If so, which ones?
  • Would you recommend this book to your friends? Why/​why not?
• Billy’s Adventure Map–Can you remember all the places Billy went in his adventure? Let’s draw a big map of his journey. You can draw his home, Nashville, the “Battle of the Bow-​Wows” stage, and any other places you remember. Don’t forget to show how Billy faced the bullies and became a star!
• Billy’s Music Magic–Do you like music just like Billy? Let’s write our very own songs! Think about what makes you happy, what dreams you have, or a time when you were really brave. Write down your ideas and turn them into a cool song. If you’re not sure about a whole song, that’s okay. Even a few lines or a catchy chorus will be awesome!
• You’re Special, Just Like Billy–Billy was different, but that’s what made him special! Now, it’s your turn to show how special you are. Draw or write about something that makes you different and why you’re proud of it. Maybe you’re really good at jumping rope, or you can whistle super loud. Anything that makes you, YOU! When we’re done, we can share and celebrate how different and amazing we all are.

• Further Reading–This book is about a lot of things, but dealing with bullies is an important part of this story. Let’s look at some other picture books about dealing with bullies. Which of these have you already read? Which of the others would you want to read first? (Click on any book cover for more information on these titles!)