engel_dreizehn's review

5.0

Poetic versed in narrative akin to musical lyrics and the style-mood felt like one of Simon & Garfunkel. Wordier then the average picture books I have read through but it works to it's advantage as the reader is forced to slow down in pace, and contemplate Paula and Art's journey from two Jewish boys from Queens to icons of that era which included the up and downs in their friendship. The illustration match the narrative mood too and surprised to realized the poem titles are their own song titles used to great effect.
scribe391's profile picture

scribe391's review

4.5
adventurous challenging funny hopeful informative medium-paced

Told through poetry, Neri uses historical facts to describe how Paul Simon met Art Garfunkel.

This is such a beautiful book, and one that will be so fantastic to book talk. The illustrations are beautiful and the each two page spread is titled with a with a Simon & Garfunkel song. This story is one be savored, the poetry is lovely and would be a great read aloud, even if only a section is read at a time. Pairing with the original music or a video clip of the 1981 Concert in Central Park would also be fantastic. I realize that many kids may have no idea who Simon & Garfunkel are but they certainly can connect to struggles of two Jewish kids who loved music and poetry, who sang about the biggest issues of their time, and who kept trying through rejection and failure until they became one of the most well known duos in history.

bethlrodgers's review

4.0

'When Paul Met Artie: The Story of Simon & Garfunkel' by G. Neri, illustrated by David Litchfield, is an artistic and lyrically engaging biographical account of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's wonderful, yet troubled relationship and joint career. It doesn't steer away from the issues that plagued them and the times they thought they were done with the business. Their story is not so different than others who have come before or after them, but their dedication to the craft and their ability to overcome the odds even when faced with the highest forms of adversity showcases how they refused to let their struggles define them and rather found ways to move past them or overcome and beat them.

From discovering how the two met to learning how the 'The Sound of Silence' came to be written, there are so many interesting and engaging facts that even fans of the pair might not necessarily know. It takes a bit to really feel as though one's teeth are digging into the story, but the illustrations only bring more flavor to the writing, intensifying readers' understanding of who the men are and how they got not only their start, but the strength to carry on in their careers.

There is always something new to learn, even about those whom you think you already know. 'When Paul Met Artie' proves this to be true. Fans of the pair will find the story honest and engaging, while those who are not so aware of who Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are (namely the kids for whom this book is written) will learn something about the past and will hopefully be able to share in the beauty of Simon and Garfunkel's music. It transcends the time period in which the songs were written, giving way to a whole new generation of listeners who can gain something from their lyrics and strengthen the world as a result.

Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels

*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*

helensadler55's review

5.0

As a long time Simon and Garfunklel fan, I could not resist this book. Told in verse with sweet illustrations, it tells the story of how Paul and Art came together and eventually made it big. It focuses mostly on the mid-50s into the mid-60s. This is highly researched, and includes an Afterword, a Discography, a Bibliography, and a litpst of Musical Connections, rounding out the picture of how inspiration works to propel an artist forward.
kelleemoye's profile picture

kelleemoye's review

4.0

Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=15498

Wow. G. Neri and David Litchfield have captured the story of Simon & Garfunkel and released it into the world in a way that oozes the same beauty that their music does. Neri’s lyrical narrative flows and is perfect for a biography of one of the most beloved duos ever while Litchfield’s illustrations have the tone and coloring that just fit Simon & Garfunkel’s music–a bit dreamy yet raw and colorful. Their two pieces of artwork put together make for a beautiful picture book biography.

P.S. Make sure you take off the cover and look at the book design. BEAUTIFUL!
sarahcvo's profile picture

sarahcvo's review

5.0

Beautifully written, with great illustrations. I liked that each section was a poem, titled with a Simon & Garfunkel song title.

beths0103's review

5.0

This book took my breath away. It isn't one of those picture books you can read in 5 minutes. Give yourself a good half hour to just soak it all in. This will be one of those books that will be a hard sell to kids since most likely don't know who Simon & Garfunkel are, so it will likely need to be hand sold to those sensitive, quiet readers who love music and poetry. Don't neglect those readers. They are waiting for you to recommend a book like this to them.

kilbmc's review

4.0

It’s a little long, but really well done. The formatting is interesting and the illustrations are lovely.
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tschmitty's review

4.0

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" was the number one song in the country, the day I was born. This is a lovely picture book dedicated to a legendary musical partnership. Art Garfunkel is also quite the bibliophile.