| art by Sarah S. Brannen |
Visit Alyson Beecher on Wednesdays for Non-Fiction Picture Books at Kidlit Frenzy. From her and others, you will discover and want to celebrate terrific nonfiction picture books!
Beginning with the backdrop of a reunion concert in Central Park, this story of a famous pair many grew up with during the beginnings of rock 'n roll is written in what seems like a song itself. G. Neri begins with poetic descriptions of the music of two boys who started a friendship in Queens: "Two voices sounding like autumn and spring rolled into one, like snowflakes falling on barren trees, or the joyous dance of summer in the park. Two voices intertwining, birds soaring in flight, pure harmony, pure delight."
Paul was short and didn't like it, but he loved baseball and was good at it until he heard Simon sing as a fourth grader. Simon grabbed that young grade school audience in his hand and "holds them spellbound". He had a pitch-perfect voice and Paul was mesmerized, thought if Simon can do it, maybe Paul could, too.
And the book, through ups and downs, tells the story in great detail, the early thrill of a hit, the depression of failures. They part and take time to grow up, off to California during the sixties or to Europe, hanging out with others, still loving music, pressed to do something for themselves.
After reading other biographies of those who succeeded, I come away from this one about Paul and Artie with a word that has been popular again and again recently, persistence. They did have help, record companies who gave a "listen", another chance at figuring out the best way to make their music, but they took time to learn, kept on working at different approaches, went away and returned to amazing accomplishments.