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

Book 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.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Using a combination of narrative, song lyrics, cut-paper collage, and radiant watercolor art, Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier have successfully evoked the life and utopian message of singer/songwriter John Lennon. As in their award-winning Martin Luther King biography, the authors capture the essence of a man whose tragic death only underlines the significance of his life. A wondrous trip through the life of a peacemaker.

ANNOTATION

John Lennon's influence on music and culture is legendary. 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.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Susan Hepler, Ph.D.

This distilled picture book biography of John Lennon interweaves Rapport's spare and distilled text, phrases from Lennon's song lyrics, and Collier's exciting and adventuresome collages to create an artful whole. Readers need to know at the outset that Lennon was a songwriter and a Beatle in order to make much sense of a first reading. The story begins with Lennon's early abandonment by his parents, the influence of his relatives and of American music on his ideas, the early death of his mother, and his feeling of needing to keep his dreams to himself. The Beatles' rise to fame, Lennon's first encounter with Yoko Ono, and the experimental turns his music and his life took are mirrored in Collier's wonderfully creative and colorful evocations of bizarre images. For those who know the words, Lennon's song lyrics have readers completing verses only begun in the streams of words that banner the pages, and adult readers will recognize Collier's nod to record jacket images and photos from the press coverage at the time. The illustrations make good use of circles, both symbolic and literal (again, adults will recognize the shapes of 45-rmps floating in the backgrounds). The book ends abruptly, as did Lennon's life, with a mention of his hoping to grow old with Yoko, and his murder at forty. Rappaport ends with an admonition that "it's up to us to make John's dream for the world to come true" and a peace-loving quote from "Imagine." It is a fitting introduction for middle grade readers as well as an artful homage to a great poet and songwriter. A note by the author and illustrator reveals the challenges both faced because one grew up with Lennon's music and the other began as an outsider to it. Atimeline, selected discography, a list of solo albums Lennon and Ono created, research sources, websites, and an excellent selection of selected references for young readers end the book. 2004, Hyperion, Ages 9 to 14.

School Library Journal

Gr 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 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews