  | Beatles couldn't read music? (Wait! What?) Author: Gutman, Dan | |
| Price: $16.27 | ||
Summary:
Did you know that John Lennon's mom called him "Stinker" because he farted so much? Or that Paul McCartney liked playing guitar in the bathroom? Bet you didn't know that George Harrison once had his friend's parent sign his report card, or that Ringo Starr's grandma thought he was possessed by witches!
| Illustrator: | Steinfeld, Allison |
Reviews:
School Library Journal (10/01/23)
Booklist (10/15/23)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 10/01/2023 Gr 3–5—Gutman, an expert at merging humor with history, presents another biography in his "Wait, What?" series, this time exploring the careers of the "Fab Four." Like the previous volumes, this book's content consists of casual dialogue between siblings Paige and Turner, as the two trade fun facts and fascinating tidbits on the subjects. While they claim they do not tell "the whole story," the information presented is fairly comprehensive, covering the origin of the band, each member's life, their fame, and their lasting impact. The benign and silly, such as Lennon's mother's nickname for him of "Stinker," due to his unapologetic flatulence, merges seamlessly with the profound, such as Lennon and McCartney's shared experience of losing their mothers at an early age. Steinfeld's black-and-white illustrations break up the text, along with quotes from other celebrities about the band's impact on their lives. Unlike some of the other titles, Gutman offers no additional references or resources, telling readers simply to check out the "thousands of books, videos, and websites" on the topic. VERDICT Regardless of a glib handling of back-up material, this introduction to the famous band is spot-on for reluctant readers and fans of the wildly popular short-chapter book biography format.—Clara Hendricks - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 10/15/2023 Fictional siblings Paige and Turner, two cued-Black young Beatlemaniacs, narrate this engaging entry in the Wait, What? series. They present a lot of little-known Beatles facts that young readers will find fun, funny, and fascinating. There's amusing byplay between the two as Turner misunderstands Paige when she tells him her favorite Beatles songs in a Who’s on First–like skit, which frames the book’s beginning and end. Between that, brief chapters cover the Beatles' childhoods, formation as a band, rise to superstardom, and dissolution. Gutman’s absurd humor shines through as wacky details are revealed (Paul enjoyed having his girlfriend’s mother comb his hairy legs after gigs while in high school; a TV announcer mistakenly reported that Ringo got his toenails removed instead of his tonsils). Steinfeld’s appealing black-and-white drawings appear throughout, along with quotes from the Beatles themselves and from famous fans. A quick, irresistible read, especially for young Beatles fans. (With additional information suggestions and acknowledgments that cite sources.) - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
