Fab Four Friends

June 15, 2015
Four Liverpool lads determinedly dope out how to play their instruments and then make beautiful music together just in time for...Beatlemania! Reich tells the oft-told tale one Beatle at a time-starting with John and ending with Ringo. She covers working-class origins, early love of rock 'n' roll, learning how to play through trial and error ("[John] didn't give a fig about wrong notes"), the formation of the Quarrymen, the watershed gig in Germany, and the release of the first singles. Gustavson (Sebastian Robertson's Rock and Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story, 2014) keeps his focus on the Fab Four (Stuart Sutcliffe, Pete Best, and "Mr. Martin" get name checks but no face time) and traces their visual transformation from scruffy amateurs to dapper moppets. Reich leaves them not only poised for greatness, having "poured hundreds of hours of sweat, love, and teenage energy into their music," but also "best of friends." It's an idealized picture, especially considering what came after; Kathleen Krull's The Beatles Were Fab (And They Were Funny), illustrated by Stacey Innerst (2013), covers the group's entire career, albeit in a nostalgic vein. Still, young readers may be intrigued by this grand and archetypal tale, and the closing cornucopia of Beatles books, audio, video, and websites will also help to fill in the blanks. First steps on the long and winding road. (author's note, endnotes, glossary) (Picture book/biography. 7-9)

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April 1, 2015

Gr 2-5-This beautiful picture book is an affectionate tribute to the Fab Four, describing their childhoods and adolescence and concluding right as they began their rise to fame. Though on the lengthy side, the text is conversational and includes details that humanize the band. As Reich states in her author's note, she's a longtime Beatles devotee, and her enthusiasm is obvious from her copious research: there are quotes from the four sprinkled liberally throughout, all cited in the back matter. Positively dripping with nostalgia, the rich oil paintings have a retro, Norman Rockwell-esque flavor, depicting classic scenes (the Beatles in their early days, kitted out in leather) as well as re-creating moments from the boys' childhood, such as John Lennon dancing with his mother, Julia. Gustavson makes expert use of shadow and light, and there are some truly striking images here. This is a gorgeous love letter to an unforgettable band, though adult fans will most likely appreciate this effort more than children. While potentially unfamiliar terms-such as Teddy boy or scousers-are defined in the glossary, they may prove off-putting to those unfamiliar with 1960s England; educators may want to provide background for readers. Pair this title with Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom's slightly more comprehensive The Beatles (Frances Lincoln, 2014) for a unit on Beatlemania. VERDICT An attractive offering, ideal for those seeking to introduce older elementary school students to the quartet.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Grades 3-6 This thorough and well-researched collective biography traces the origins of the Beatles, examining John, Paul, George, and Ringo individually while also considering the dynamic relationships between them, and the qualities that would propel the band to extraordinary popularity and success. Reich connects the four portraits in a cohesive arc, offering details about the difficulties, as well as the contentments, each member of the Fab Four experienced while growing up in working class Liverpool. From absent fathers and hospitalizations to attentive girls and first guitars, concrete details bring her subjects to life. Though we get specifics about the boys as individuals, Reich concentrates on the qualities that brought them together, focusing especially on their humor, their work ethic, and their consummate musicianship. Gustavson's luminous oil paintings capture likenesses and personalities that are utterly recognizable, even when the bandmates are just little boys and teens. The comprehensive back matter includes an author's note, a glossary, endnotes, and a strong selection of sources.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)