Fab Four Friends: The Boys Who Became The Beatles Read Free Books and Download eBooks
In 1957 in Liverpool, England, a young lad named John Lennon and his band played music at a local church fair. In the audience was Paul McCartney, who liked what he heard and soon joined the group. Paul's friend George Harrison kept showing up at rehearsals until the older boys finally let him in. Eventually they found the perfect drummer, Ringo Starr, and the perfect name: The Beatles. Told through a lyrical text and stunning paintings, this book spotlights four ordinary boys growing up amid the rubble of postwar England who found music to be a powerful, even life-saving, force.
Lexile Measure: 880 (What's this?)
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (August 18, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 080509458X
ISBN-13: 978-0805094589
Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 0.4 x 11.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #595,428 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #21 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Music & Photography > Music > Rock #103 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Pop Culture > Beatles #145 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Musical
Age Range: 6 - 10 years
Grade Level: 1 - 5
I have been a fan of the Beatles since the early 1960s. I thought I knew most everything about them. I was wrong. I found the book very educational and inspiring. I knew they grew up poor, but did not know all the other adversities they had to overcome.Mr. Gustavson's illustrations are great and add bring more life to the book and are a great compliment.I am an avid fan of his work and have a large collection of his books.I bought copies for my grandchildren.I cannot wait for his next book.
When I was 15, I read Hunter Davies's bio of the Beatles, and decided that day that I wanted to become some sort of artist. Reading Susanna Reich's FAB FOUR FRIENDS, I got that same feeling all these years later. Telling the story of each Beatle individually, and then as their part in the group, we get a feel for each piece of the puzzle that each member brought with them. Reich starts a story that we know will end with world-wide fame, but somehow brings us back to a time when they were young and success was still far away and uncertain, But it's the feeling of being a teenager and finding kindred spirits, of being young enough to think anything is possible, and being just old enough to begin to make it happen, that the author makes come alive in the pages of this book. The art is likewise as good. Not showing venues like the Cavern or the Art Institute or the homes of the Beatles directly, you get a feel for the city that was large and unsympathetic at times, the very modest homes, and the cramped cheap clubs they played in. One picture of a double-decker bus at night is brilliant, We know that George Harrison is playing his audition piece for John, with Paul beside him, But we see it from the outside of the bus, just three teenagers riding home and probably having to scrounge for the fare. I hope some kid comes across this book, and gets a chance to hear their music, and the music that inspired their music, and makes that kid decide he or she wants to become some sort of artist.
Summary: Most kids today have heard of the Beatles, but many would be hard-pressed to come up with the names John, Paul, George, and Ringo, let alone give any details about the Fab Four. This book goes back to the early days of the four lads growing up in post-war Liverpool. Each band member is given a few pages for his own story, with all the tales eventually coming together with the formation of the Beatles. The book ends shortly after October 1963, just as Beatlemania was beginning to sweep the globe. Back matter includes an author’s note telling of her love of the Beatles that began in childhood, a glossary, notes on the many quotes in the text, and additional resources. Grades 2-5.Pros: The Beatles are such a phenomenon, it was interesting to read each boy’s story and see them as struggling teenagers who were deeply devoted to music. The illustrations perfectly capture the various personalities of John, Paul, George, and Ringo.Cons: Kids whose grandfathers are younger than Paul and Ringo may not appreciate the Beatles enough to wade through this lengthy picture book.
Fab Four Friends: The Boys Who Became the Beatles The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny) Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys.: A Memoir Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. The Fab Five: Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, and the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team (GymnStars Book 3) The Beatles Best: Over 120 Great Beatles Hits (Piano, Vocal, Guitar) The Beatles Lyrics: The Stories Behind the Music, Including the Handwritten Drafts of More Than 100 Classic Beatles Songs How Everything Became War and the Military Became Everything: Tales from the Pentagon How I Became A Ghost - A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story (Book 1 in the How I Became A Ghost Series) Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends How the Dog Became the Dog: From Wolves to Our Best Friends Loito and the Lioness - English and Swahili: How the Masai and the lions became friends - English & Swahili version Boys Adrift: Factors Driving the Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men Mazes For Boys: Groovy Mazes and Puzzles Boys Will Love Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men Boys Should Be Boys: 7 Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons Raising Boys, Third Edition: Why Boys Are Different--and How to Help Them Become Happy and Well-Balanced Men Boys Should Be Boys Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys Dynasty Guys Write for Guys Read: Boys' Favorite Authors Write About Being Boys
