Product Description

John Lennon's influence on music and culture is legendary. He was a rebel, a genius, an innovator, and a peace activist. From a young age he dreamed of fame and fortune. When he achieved it as one of the Beatles, he recognized the need for a deeper meaning in life. His inner search for happiness shaped his life and brought new dimension to the world of rock 'n' roll. As a follow-up to their award-winning title, Martin's Big Words, Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier present John Lennon's life through a combination of narrative and song lyrics, cut-paper collage and watercolor art-capturing the energy and the essence of a man whose vision and creative genius continue to inspire people today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #971458 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-01
• Format: Bargain Price
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 30 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8–Using a combination of simple prose, song lyrics, and illustration, this heartfelt picture-book biography traces Lennon's life from his childhood to his death. Striking in both its simplicity and complexity, it captures this enigmatic singer, artist, songwriter, and folk hero in a way that will move and fascinate those too young to remember the man but are surrounded by his music and myth. Collier's remarkable illustrations begin on the cover from which Lennon's emotionless face stares out from behind his trademark granny glasses. Inside the book, soft pastel circles appear everywhere. On some spreads, they are on the sidebars on which the text rests, accompanying an illustration. On others, they overtake the pages–sometimes as simple circles and other times incorporating themselves into the collage artwork, becoming records, or orange slices, or flashbulbs. Alternatively they trace over the illustrations, giving them a dreamlike appearance and reinforcing and celebrating Lennon's messages as his hopes for the world. Rappaport's text portrays him as a creative and tortured soul, referring only casually to his more controversial actions. His death is described simply as "murder" with no further details. His wishes for world peace and tolerance are reflected in most of the lyrics selected. This beautiful and stirring tribute will surely send readers to bookshelves and the music stores to learn more about the man.–Jane Marino, Bronxville Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 4-8. The creators of Martin's Big Words (2001) use free-verse text and pictures that tumble across the pages to introduce Lennon to a new generation. As a child virtually abandoned by his parents, John found comfort in writing and drawing. Then rock and roll shook up his life, and a meeting with Paul McCartney sent it in a new direction. Lennon's life was a panorama of talent, inspiration, dreams, and despair, and making it manageable for young readers is a mighty task. In some respects Rappaport and Collier succeed. The bold collage and watercolor artwork will draw curious eyes, and the staccato text and song lyrics provide a solid biographical framework. But as a whole, the book is overwhelming. Kids familiar with the music are the best audience, of course. Those who have heard "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," for instance, will enjoy peering at the accompanying spread showing John surrounded by tangerine trees, whose fruit is replicated on his clothes (though here, the overriding color, maroon, doesn't fit the mood). Some spreads, like the one showing legs and feet crossing Abbey Road, will resonate only with kids who understand the reference. This will work best with Lennon's music playing in the background; kids will need that visceral connection to appreciate the textual and visual rhythms the book is trying to evoke. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
Doreen Rappaport has written several award-winning books for children, including The School Is Not White!, illustrated by Curtis James; Martin’s Big Words, a Caldecott Honor Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor for Illustration, and a Jane Addams Children’s Book Award winner; Freedom River, an ALA Notable Book and winner of a Coretta Scott King Honor for Illustration; and John’s Secret Dreams: The Life of John Lennon, all illustrated by Bryan Collier. Rappaport lives and writes in upstate New York.

Customer Reviews

I Hope Someday You'll Join Us...
...and the world will live as one.

These inspirational words from John Lennon from his 1971 mega hit, "Imagine" beautifully underscore this book. The gentle illustrations of John as a young boy to the man he became are sure to delight all ages. This is a wonderful way to introduce children to the Chief Beatle, the man who founded the World's Number One Band as well as to see what influences helped John create the poignant lyrics that he did. John's sad classic, "Mother" was about how his natural mother Julia turned him over to her older sister and brother-in-law to raise; "Imagine" was the vision that John had for a peaceful world where we all live as one.

Please read this book and share it with somebody. It is not only a deeply moving book, it is one that will resonate in the heart and mind as well.

Not really secret, but definately dreams.
For children whose parents steeped them in the Beatles as mine did, this book of swimming, beautiful collages about the life of John Lennon is a wonderful treat. The story is essentially a highlight of the good and the not-so-good parts of John's life and the many poingant, moving, and splendedly beautiful things he had to say. It deals with the sadness of John's abandonment by his mother ("Mother, you had me, I never had you"), the jubilation of creating a rock'n'roll phemonenon that shook the world and his wild sense of the absurd (Goo Goo Ga'Joob!). The book is punctuated by lyrics from many Beatles songs and is, basically, very moving. Although a few aspects of John's life mentioned in the book, divorcing his wife to marry Yoko Ono for example, may take a bit of explaination for younger children they are certainly important parts of John's life. The message of the book is John's constant message to the world: "Yes" is the answer and Love is all you need.

Beautiful intro to Lennon's life and musical work
My 2 1/2-year-old daughter was given this book as a gift. Yes, she's a little young to understand it, but she's already a Beatles fan... I read the book to her and she asked questions about why John was sad growing up, and I sang her the printed song lyrics (I likely will burn her a CD with all the songs featured in the book). I know that she won't get all of it (I glossed over the last page; she doesn't need to know what murder is just yet), but it's a beautifully written & illustrated book that not only gives facts about John's career but also draws you in and makes you want to learn more; she will definitely grow with this book. In fact, I showed her footage of the Beatles performing in the Cavern and John Lennon's "Imagine" music video after she saw the drawings in the book. (My only - and very minor - gripe is that the author chose lyrics from Paul's section of "A Day in the Life".)