Review by Booklist Review
With the recognition of Bob Dylan's award of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016, there is renewed interest in the music of the sixties. Two boys from Queens become best friends, connected by their love of music and interest in rock 'n' roll. Artie Garfunkel, called The Voice for his hypnotic sound, inspired Paul Simon to learn to play the guitar and write songs. Eventually, the duo became a cultural icon, captivating a generation with their infectious harmonies. Influenced by Elvis, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and other folk singers, they produced their number-one hit The Sound of Silence after the assassination of JFK; the song broke all records, outselling even the Beatles. Neri conveys the spirit of those times through a text compiled from interviews with the two singers and other sources. Back matter offers additional information, while the oversize format allows room for the extensive free-verse text. Appealing, digitally created full-bleed illustrations capture in detail city streets, the two young boys, their later stardom, and their famous 1981 concert in Central Park.--Gepson, Lolly Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Neri tells the endearing story of the sometimes rocky partnership between folk rock duo Simon and Garfunkel, beginning as children in Queens. Vignettes detail formative events in the boys' lives, the words displayed on the pages like song lyrics and paired with song titles like "The Only Living Boy in New York" and "The Sound of Silence." Litchfield's images show their evolution from gawky boys into young adults wearing their iconic mock turtlenecks and staid expressions. When Simon records a solo album without telling Garfunkel, it causes a rift, and the two part ways-until they cross paths on the Queensboro Bridge and reconnect: "Like slipping/into an old coat,/ they start singing/ Paul's new songs/ together." Neri gently underscores how, while Simon and Garfunkel found lasting fame, they began as friends who loved singing together. Ages 9-12. Author's agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. Illustrator's agent: the Bright Agency. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-8-This nostalgia-tinged biography of folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel opens with the pair's legendary 1981 concert in New York's Central Park, then quickly shifts settings to Queens, three decades earlier. In Kew Gardens Hills, young Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel perfect their signature enchanting harmonies. As with Hello, I'm Johnny Cash, the author ends the book before the artists become superstars. However, there's still plenty of drama; Paul and Artie briefly achieve fame under the name Tom & Jerry, break up, and reunite-all prior to their release of the iconic "The Sound of Silence." Exuberant free verse poems, each headed by one of the group's song titles, capture the boys' youthful ambition, their complex friendship, and their excitement as rock and roll weaves its spell over them and the nation. Enhanced by affectionately caricaturelike illustrations, the text's compelling imagery brings Paul, a scrappy class clown, and Artie, the boy with the golden voice, to life-though readers will come away with a firmer sense of Paul Simon. Steeped in references to doo-wop, Elvis Presley, and Carole King, the work will likely resonate most strongly with adult followers of the artists, but it will intrigue more than a few kids (and Neri's detailed back matter will reward those budding fans). VERDICT A charming addition to poetry or biography collections.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Neri's pleasantly nostalgia-drenched picture-book biography explores Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's meeting of musical minds. Although it's not especially lyrical, the quite-lengthy text is laid out like verse, and this, compounded by the outsize book's almost-square dimensions, creates the look of song lyrics on a record sleeve. The heavily retro vibe is reinforced by plenty of visual motifs that leave readers feelin' groovy. Bib. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two boys from New York City briefly but spectacularly captured the spirit of 1960s music.Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel grew up in the same traditional white, Jewish Queens neighborhood in the 1950s. They both loved to listen to the radio and sing. Meeting each other in school led to friendship and the realization that their two voices created a magical harmony. Their journey to success was difficult, with more downs than ups, but eventuallyin the turbulent years of the '60sthey created the sound that still resonates among so many of their generation. Neri's free-verse narrative is compelling to read and written with deep admiration for the duo. Each segment of their lives is presented in a two-page spread headlined by one of their song or album titles. Litchfield's digitally created art beautifully captures streets, bridges, and neighborhoods in New York along with depictions of their performances and of those by singers who influenced them, such as Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. Music lovers and fans will delight in sharing this book with young family and friends and will surely appreciate the listing of musical connections of songs and singers that were important in their musical partnership. Part nostalgia, part history, and all tuneful. (afterword, discography, bibliography, musical connections) (Picture book/biography. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
