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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
This is a gorgeous biography/historical account of Simon and Garfunkel from their early years as school friends to their eventual success story. A wonderful depiction of their young lives and the bumps in the road. These two were not an “overnight sensation” - they worked and worked their craft and several times parted ways. A must for all music lovers and music teachers.
I loved seeing two of my favorite musicians from this perspective, a poetic picture book of their friendship and collaboration. From their childhoods in Queens, meeting in 6th grade, to their first attempts at making music, to the day years later when "The Sound of Silence" became the number one song and launched their careers. Story told in a lovely series of vignettes; each spread has an illustration and the text, in free verse, is titled with the name of a Simon and Garfunkel song. The illustrations are adorable--kind of cartoony but sincere, if you know what I mean. Colorful. Again I love a book that has a differently illustrated dustjacket from the hardcover; one is portraits of Art and Paul, the other is two gorgeous city streetscapes from in the book, with Art walking down the New York City street and Paul walking down the London street. Author's note says he compiled the text from many sources, trying always to use the artists' own words or intent in his creation. Also ends with a nice list of "musical connections" of Simon and Garfunkel's, their first songs ever sung, or songs that strongly influenced them, any milestone music in their lives. I thought that was pretty unique.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Using the titles of songs that Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel wrote and recorded together, and written to look like poetry or the lyrics to songs, G. Neri looks at the friendship of these two favorites who couldn't be more different from each other. Sure, both grew up in middle class Jewish homes in Kew Gardens, Queen, both were looking for a friend, and both loved music, but that's pretty much where the similarities end. And they didn't really know each other until they were cast in a school production of Alice in Wonderland. Artie had perfect pitch and was a musical natural, Paul wanted to sing and had to work at learning how to play the guitar. But they stuck together and eventually ended up on American Bandstand, and the singing team of Simon and Garfunkel was born.
But even as things were looking up though they were still in high school, Paul decided to record a solo record and their harmonic friendship came to an end when Artie found out. There was no Simon and Garfunkel as they both went off to college - Artie to Columbia University, Paul to Queens College. It was the 1960s by then, and the times they were a changin'. Artie headed to Berkeley, California, Paul to Europe.
Three years later, the pair met again while walking across the 59th Street bridge and began talking again. Pretty soon, they're singing again, cutting an album called Wednesday Morning 3 A.M., which includes the song "The Sound of Silence". It was at first a failure, until people start requesting it on the radio and it climbed to the top of the pop charts, the first of many.
As much of a fan as I've always been, I knew nothing about the personal lives of Simon and Garfunkel and their early career together, so this book was basically new information for me, as it was for my young readers. I had no idea this duo had so many ups and downs to it. Perhaps because of the three column format, it felt like Neri was able to include a lot more information than most PB bios, particularly about what was happening musically from the late 1950s onward.
Litchfield's digitally created illustrations are perfectly in tune with this biography. What they are a duo, Paul and Artie are illustrated together, and when they have split up, they are depicted on opposite pages with the text in between. The illustrations are colorful and especially detailed in their slightly oversized book, and my young readers had fun combing over them.
Luckily, I have a Simon and Garfunkel playlist that I often listen to so I was able to play it for the kids, most of whom never heard of them before. I'm not sure now what they liked better - the book, the music, or maybe both equally.
But even as things were looking up though they were still in high school, Paul decided to record a solo record and their harmonic friendship came to an end when Artie found out. There was no Simon and Garfunkel as they both went off to college - Artie to Columbia University, Paul to Queens College. It was the 1960s by then, and the times they were a changin'. Artie headed to Berkeley, California, Paul to Europe.
Three years later, the pair met again while walking across the 59th Street bridge and began talking again. Pretty soon, they're singing again, cutting an album called Wednesday Morning 3 A.M., which includes the song "The Sound of Silence". It was at first a failure, until people start requesting it on the radio and it climbed to the top of the pop charts, the first of many.
As much of a fan as I've always been, I knew nothing about the personal lives of Simon and Garfunkel and their early career together, so this book was basically new information for me, as it was for my young readers. I had no idea this duo had so many ups and downs to it. Perhaps because of the three column format, it felt like Neri was able to include a lot more information than most PB bios, particularly about what was happening musically from the late 1950s onward.
Litchfield's digitally created illustrations are perfectly in tune with this biography. What they are a duo, Paul and Artie are illustrated together, and when they have split up, they are depicted on opposite pages with the text in between. The illustrations are colorful and especially detailed in their slightly oversized book, and my young readers had fun combing over them.
Luckily, I have a Simon and Garfunkel playlist that I often listen to so I was able to play it for the kids, most of whom never heard of them before. I'm not sure now what they liked better - the book, the music, or maybe both equally.
Captivating story written in verse. I’m a fan of the duo and didn’t know a lot of their history, so I found the information fascinating.
Wonderful overview of how Simon and Garfunkel became a successful duo. The narrative is in free verse poetry with each chapter headed with one of their song titles. It is a charming way of sharing their story and pairs well with the folksy illustration style.
I was pleasantly surprised and thankful for the moments of serendipity that brought them together. Their captivating harmonies are iconic.
I was pleasantly surprised and thankful for the moments of serendipity that brought them together. Their captivating harmonies are iconic.
Picture book, told in prose, detailing the meeting and lives of Simon & Garfunkel Vivid colors and lively art.