Scan barcode
kelleemoye's review
5.0
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=14284
Schubert’s narrative of Seeger’s life is so lyrical and poetic–it is a song accompanied by beautifully textured, light illustrations that bring the biography to life. I can tell that Schubert is a fan of Seeger because she told his story with gentleness and love honoring a man that is truly an American hero.
The more I read about Pete Seeger, the more I am intrigued. I have heard about Pete Seeger my whole life, but it wasn’t until I read Stand Up and Sing by Susanna Reich that I truly learned about HIM outside of just knowing his music. I truly wish that Pete Seeger was still around to help us in our current time. His story has shown me that one person can make a difference, that good can win and be honored, and that music can bring people together. I loved learning even more about Seeger through Schubert’s picture book.
Schubert’s narrative of Seeger’s life is so lyrical and poetic–it is a song accompanied by beautifully textured, light illustrations that bring the biography to life. I can tell that Schubert is a fan of Seeger because she told his story with gentleness and love honoring a man that is truly an American hero.
The more I read about Pete Seeger, the more I am intrigued. I have heard about Pete Seeger my whole life, but it wasn’t until I read Stand Up and Sing by Susanna Reich that I truly learned about HIM outside of just knowing his music. I truly wish that Pete Seeger was still around to help us in our current time. His story has shown me that one person can make a difference, that good can win and be honored, and that music can bring people together. I loved learning even more about Seeger through Schubert’s picture book.
ljrinaldi's review
4.0
i interviewed the author of this book on my radio show, on KKUP, today. I mused that it is just as hard to write a biography in picture book form, as in full on adult biography. You have to do the same amount of research, as you would normally, and then you have to cut out all the words that you can so that the story is short enough to be an easy to read picture book.
Do you learn things by reading this? Yes, I did. Do you k now that Pete Seeger was who got people interested in helping to clean up the Hudson River? That until he came along, people just said, oh, there is nothing we can do, and he said, yes there was.
Did you know that during the UnAmerican Activities questioning, in the 1950s, that unlike everyone else pleading the 5th, so that they would not incriminate themselves, he plead the 1st amendment, the freedom of speech. He even offered to sing a song to congress. They turned him down.
The only thing this book is missing is a CD to go along with it, or lyrics, but apparently that would have been prohibitively expensive. But, as the author said, you can always go to YouTube and listen to his music.
Thanks to Gayles Leander Wright, and the publisher for providing this book for an honest review.
Do you learn things by reading this? Yes, I did. Do you k now that Pete Seeger was who got people interested in helping to clean up the Hudson River? That until he came along, people just said, oh, there is nothing we can do, and he said, yes there was.
Did you know that during the UnAmerican Activities questioning, in the 1950s, that unlike everyone else pleading the 5th, so that they would not incriminate themselves, he plead the 1st amendment, the freedom of speech. He even offered to sing a song to congress. They turned him down.
The only thing this book is missing is a CD to go along with it, or lyrics, but apparently that would have been prohibitively expensive. But, as the author said, you can always go to YouTube and listen to his music.
Thanks to Gayles Leander Wright, and the publisher for providing this book for an honest review.
nerfherder86's review
5.0
Brilliant look at the famous folk singer and activist. All quotes are sourced. The book is written in simple text very like a song, repeating "Listen" like a refrain, "What trouble? This trouble" etc. Includes titles of many of his songs in the text, and they're in quotation marks and a colored font. Timeline includes details on the day he died, and a quote from President Obama's statement about him at the time. The book doesn't cover his childhood, just how he played songs wherever he went, encouraged audience to sing along, he also participated in marches and cleanups, and encouraged that too. Beautiful colorful realistic illustrations.
backonthealex's review
4.0
I was introduced to Pete Seeger by my Welsh father, who loved American folk music, and I've never stopped listening to him. In her biography of this great American folk singer and activist, Leda Schubert really captures the commitment Pete Seeger had to his music, his fan, and his political beliefs. She deftly shows that while the country was willing to participate by singing along with him, and the two musical groups he was a member of (the Almanacs and the Weavers), it was his politics that got him in trouble with the House Un-American Activities Committee, who questioned whether or not he was a true American (which made me wonder if they had ever listened to the words of "This Land is Your Land"). Pete was indicted and blacklisted by the committee, and work really dried up for him for four years before his conviction was overturned. Pete went right back to singing and activism, joining the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s to fight racism, and later, protesting the Vietnam Wars, and always emphasizing the importance of people's participation. Woven into Pete Seeger's life story are the names of the songs he wrote at each juncture, songs were have been singing ever since in school, in camp, and inside our heads after hearing them played somewhere, which I consider a testament to their appeal.
Schubert includes one of Pete's passions that many people don't know much about and that was his love for the Hudson River and his efforts to clean up the pollutions caused by years of chemical waster dumping in it. Now, anyone who has recently driven over the Tappen Zee Bridge or the Bear Mountain Bridge can readily see how his efforts have paid off.
Raúl Colón's soft, textured watercolor and colored pencil illustrations really capture the spirit of Pete Seeger's beliefs and music, and the power they held for his audiences wherever he played. Schubert writes that Pete "cared about justice, peace, equality, and people everywhere" and what could be more inspiring for young readers, especially in today's world.
Back matter includes an Author's Note, a Timeline of Pete's life, Endnotes, a Selected Bibliography, a list of books Pete wrote for children, and recommended recordings. Sadly, my dad's old crackly Pete Seeger 78 RPM records didn't survive they were played so much, but that's OK, I know all the words by heart and have passed them on to my Kiddo and my young readers.
Schubert includes one of Pete's passions that many people don't know much about and that was his love for the Hudson River and his efforts to clean up the pollutions caused by years of chemical waster dumping in it. Now, anyone who has recently driven over the Tappen Zee Bridge or the Bear Mountain Bridge can readily see how his efforts have paid off.
Raúl Colón's soft, textured watercolor and colored pencil illustrations really capture the spirit of Pete Seeger's beliefs and music, and the power they held for his audiences wherever he played. Schubert writes that Pete "cared about justice, peace, equality, and people everywhere" and what could be more inspiring for young readers, especially in today's world.
Back matter includes an Author's Note, a Timeline of Pete's life, Endnotes, a Selected Bibliography, a list of books Pete wrote for children, and recommended recordings. Sadly, my dad's old crackly Pete Seeger 78 RPM records didn't survive they were played so much, but that's OK, I know all the words by heart and have passed them on to my Kiddo and my young readers.
More...