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In My Life
With three generations of one family we share moments that are meant to be savored in this special book that beautifully illustrates the words John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s world-renowned song “In My Life.”
There are places I’ll remember, in my life, though some have changed...
One gift with a bright bow starts a young girl on a path…one her mother follows with her as she explores, grows, and rides off on her own, only to return again with her own daughter in tow. This hauntingly beautiful book shares the small moments of that journey that are meant to be remembered and savored in the lyrics of this classic song.
There are places I’ll remember, in my life, though some have changed...
One gift with a bright bow starts a young girl on a path…one her mother follows with her as she explores, grows, and rides off on her own, only to return again with her own daughter in tow. This hauntingly beautiful book shares the small moments of that journey that are meant to be remembered and savored in the lyrics of this classic song.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published February 2, 2021
3 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
John Lennon
759 books1,980 followersJohn Winston Ono Lennon, MBE, was an English singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, and together with Paul McCartney formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century.
Born and raised in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager, his first band, The Quarrymen, evolving into The Beatles in 1960. As the group began to undergo the disintegration that led to their break-up towards the end of that decade, Lennon launched a solo career that would span the next decade, punctuated by critically acclaimed albums, including John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Imagine, and iconic songs such as "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine".
Lennon revealed a rebellious nature and acerbic wit in his music, his writing, on film, and in interviews, and became controversial through his work as a peace activist. He moved to New York City in 1971, where his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a lengthy attempt by Richard Nixon's administration to deport him, while his songs were adapted as anthems by the anti-war movement. Disengaging himself from the music business in 1975 to devote time to his family, Lennon reemerged in October 1980 with a new single and a comeback album, Double Fantasy, but was murdered weeks after their release on the sidewalk outside his home in the Dakota. Ironically, "Imagine" (imagine all the people, living life in peace) was a featured cut from this album.
Lennon's album sales in the United States alone stand at 14 million units, and as performer, writer, or co-writer he is responsible for 27 number one singles on the US Hot 100 chart. In 2002, a BBC poll on the 100 Greatest Britons voted him eighth, and in 2008 Rolling Stone ranked him the fifth greatest singer of all time. He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
--Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia --
Born and raised in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager, his first band, The Quarrymen, evolving into The Beatles in 1960. As the group began to undergo the disintegration that led to their break-up towards the end of that decade, Lennon launched a solo career that would span the next decade, punctuated by critically acclaimed albums, including John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Imagine, and iconic songs such as "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine".
Lennon revealed a rebellious nature and acerbic wit in his music, his writing, on film, and in interviews, and became controversial through his work as a peace activist. He moved to New York City in 1971, where his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a lengthy attempt by Richard Nixon's administration to deport him, while his songs were adapted as anthems by the anti-war movement. Disengaging himself from the music business in 1975 to devote time to his family, Lennon reemerged in October 1980 with a new single and a comeback album, Double Fantasy, but was murdered weeks after their release on the sidewalk outside his home in the Dakota. Ironically, "Imagine" (imagine all the people, living life in peace) was a featured cut from this album.
Lennon's album sales in the United States alone stand at 14 million units, and as performer, writer, or co-writer he is responsible for 27 number one singles on the US Hot 100 chart. In 2002, a BBC poll on the 100 Greatest Britons voted him eighth, and in 2008 Rolling Stone ranked him the fifth greatest singer of all time. He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
--Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia --
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 23, 2021
A lovely, lovely book with beautiful, nostalgic artwork to illustrate beautiful, nostalgic lyrics. It doesn't matter if you love the Beatles or not, it's a jewel.
May 1, 2021
If you did not hear them singing the lyrics as you read this book. . . . Made me tear up at work as I read it. What a lovely tribute to such a meaningful, love driven song.
April 5, 2021
Richie’ Picks: IN MY LIFE by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, illustrated by Genevieve Santos, Simon & Schuster/Little Simon, February 2021, 40p., ISBN: 978-1-5344-6585-5
“I’ve just seen a face
I can’t forget the time or place
Where we just met
She’s just the girl for me
And I want all the world to see
We’ve met, mm-mm-mm-m’mm-mm”
So begins the North American version of The Beatles’ 1965 Rubber Soul album, on which the song “In My Life” is included. The then-brand-spanking-new LP was the highlight of my Christmas that year, along with a new portable record player and a copy of the soundtrack from The Beatles’ recent Help! movie.
This illustrated version of IN MY LIFE is a great excuse for teachers, librarians, and grandparents to turn kids on to The Beatles, whose work and influence upon American culture is essential twentieth century history. For those of us who lived in and through Beatlemania, The Beatles helped define our generation.
I don’t know what portion of the country or the world can play “In My Life,” note to note, beginning to end, in their heads, but I know there are a lot of us. 56 years later, this song remains magical and meaningful. It’s among the most memorable of John Lennon’s lyrics.
Illustrator Genevieve Santos utilizes the song’s lyrics as accompaniment to the tale of a young girl who grows up experiencing, and later recalling, the time she spends with her mom, grandma, and big sister, living at the seashore when she is a little kid. Ultimately, the young girl grows up, has a little girl of her own, and brings the child to the family retreat on the coast where her mother has now become Grandma.
No question, the best way to present this book is a simple multimedia experience: Play the song as accompaniment to your turning the pages. You will need to take some time to rehearse and get used to the rhythm. There are even a couple of wordless pages in the middle, corresponding with the instrumental break in the middle of the song.
The watercolor and ink illustrations feature soft shades of blue, green, and yellow, with some white space. They remind me of that washed-out, floaty feeling you experience at the end of a long day of playing at the coast.
IN MY LIFE is a lovely book.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
“I’ve just seen a face
I can’t forget the time or place
Where we just met
She’s just the girl for me
And I want all the world to see
We’ve met, mm-mm-mm-m’mm-mm”
So begins the North American version of The Beatles’ 1965 Rubber Soul album, on which the song “In My Life” is included. The then-brand-spanking-new LP was the highlight of my Christmas that year, along with a new portable record player and a copy of the soundtrack from The Beatles’ recent Help! movie.
This illustrated version of IN MY LIFE is a great excuse for teachers, librarians, and grandparents to turn kids on to The Beatles, whose work and influence upon American culture is essential twentieth century history. For those of us who lived in and through Beatlemania, The Beatles helped define our generation.
I don’t know what portion of the country or the world can play “In My Life,” note to note, beginning to end, in their heads, but I know there are a lot of us. 56 years later, this song remains magical and meaningful. It’s among the most memorable of John Lennon’s lyrics.
Illustrator Genevieve Santos utilizes the song’s lyrics as accompaniment to the tale of a young girl who grows up experiencing, and later recalling, the time she spends with her mom, grandma, and big sister, living at the seashore when she is a little kid. Ultimately, the young girl grows up, has a little girl of her own, and brings the child to the family retreat on the coast where her mother has now become Grandma.
No question, the best way to present this book is a simple multimedia experience: Play the song as accompaniment to your turning the pages. You will need to take some time to rehearse and get used to the rhythm. There are even a couple of wordless pages in the middle, corresponding with the instrumental break in the middle of the song.
The watercolor and ink illustrations feature soft shades of blue, green, and yellow, with some white space. They remind me of that washed-out, floaty feeling you experience at the end of a long day of playing at the coast.
IN MY LIFE is a lovely book.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
August 4, 2021
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Our book today is In My Life, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, illustrated by Genevieve Santos, a picture book interpretation of the classic Beatles song.
Following the lyrics of the timeless ballad “In My Life”, the artwork opens on a young curly-haired girl discovering a brand new bike with training wheels, and taking it for a spin with an older female character (their relationship is never explicitly defined, but context suggests she is the girl’s mother or caregiver). The girl is shown adventuring on her bike all over their seaside setting: exploring, playing, discovering; sometimes with her companion, sometimes alone. As she grows, her bike changes – losing training wheels, becoming a larger model, changing out colors and handlebars. The girl is shown attending college, commuting through city streets, then returning to the seaside town with her own young daughter in tow (on her bike’s new child seat, naturally). They have someone to visit… and a new bike to try out, so all three girls can begin exploring anew.
Heartwarming, if occasionally puzzling. While “In My Life” is quite possibly one of the most universally affecting Beatles songs, the lyrics do feature the word “lovers” repeatedly, a word which is, frankly, odd to read in a children’s book in its intended context (we chose to “sing” the book through, and I’m afraid it didn’t make those lines any less awkward). That being said, the sweet and gentle story told by the artwork is lovely to behold, as Santo’s ink-and-watercolor illustrations are gorgeous and atmospheric, and the use of color to set each scene’s tone is stunning. The length is great for a storytime, JJ loved that we could sing it, and I won’t lie: the final few pages got me a little choked up and teary-eyed. A few hiccups, but overall a lovely and moving reimagining that music-lovers in particular will adore. Baby Bookworm approved!
(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
March 23, 2021
A beautiful, understated story of three generations of women.
Set to the expressive lyrics of John Lennon (and Paul McCartney), the visuals here are the memories of a mother and her daughter who live in a lighthouse near an ocean spending time together having fun and making memories they share. The years pass and the daughter is now a grown woman with her own daughter. They live nearby the (now) grandmother and are all three making even more beautiful memories together.
Mixed media illustrations by Genevieve Santos are light and charming, fitting for this love song. There are no men or males in this story, as it is about the love these women have for each other - wanting to spend time together in order to make memories that will last into the future.
For those not familiar with the song, an ideal way to enjoy this is to turn on a recording of The Beatles or Judy Collins singing this haunting, sweet poem/song as you read along. Be sure to have a box of tissues handy.
Highly Recommended for PreSchool - grade 2.
Set to the expressive lyrics of John Lennon (and Paul McCartney), the visuals here are the memories of a mother and her daughter who live in a lighthouse near an ocean spending time together having fun and making memories they share. The years pass and the daughter is now a grown woman with her own daughter. They live nearby the (now) grandmother and are all three making even more beautiful memories together.
Mixed media illustrations by Genevieve Santos are light and charming, fitting for this love song. There are no men or males in this story, as it is about the love these women have for each other - wanting to spend time together in order to make memories that will last into the future.
For those not familiar with the song, an ideal way to enjoy this is to turn on a recording of The Beatles or Judy Collins singing this haunting, sweet poem/song as you read along. Be sure to have a box of tissues handy.
Highly Recommended for PreSchool - grade 2.
June 25, 2021
I have always loved listening to the Beatles, ever since my parents got me into their "1" album and then all of their stranger and more fun tracks after that. I didn't really listen to this song until two great friends performed it at our high school's annual music festival and then I fell in love with this song thanks to their beautiful cover. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw3RG... is the video of their performance and I am at least 100 of the views on the video. I loved seeing those beloved lyrics translated into these beautiful illustrations and I bought both of them copies of this book so that I can share the beauty with them.
April 29, 2021
Look, yes, it made me tear up. This song has been played at the funerals of two of my parents--of course I teared up. I do think the words are more about romantic love, but the gorgeous illustrations and lovely story made up for Santos's alternate interpretation. It really is a lovely book about the enduring love between a parent and child, which is then passed along to the next generation. Beauty.
February 27, 2021
Yes, Lennon and McCarty wrote it, but this will always be a Judy Collins song to me...and the illustrations here just made me cry. Absolutely beautiful. I sang my way through the book...and welled up so much at the end I couldn't finish. An excellent book that you don't have to be a Beatles fan (or a Judy Collins fan) to love.
December 29, 2021
Read this to my grandson and we both enjoyed it. The lovely illustration and the beautiful words from the Beatles song was heartfelt. It was so touching seeing the friendship between the two girls. The nautical feel with the lighthouse and sea shells brought back memories of places like, Martha's Vineyard, Rhode Island🏝️, and Maine. What a sweet ending, seeing the three of them ride off. Enjoy. ❤️
February 10, 2021
When you pick up this book, you get one of my most favorite Beatles songs illustrated in a lovely way. This song means so much to me and I just love how the illustrations take us through a child's love of her bicycle, her mom, and that lighthouse. It is a perfect little book.
Read
February 18, 2021In this beautiful adaption of John Lennon and Paul McCartney's song "In My Life", a young girl grows up reflecting on the people and places who influenced her life. The illustrations are done beautifully in watercolors and show her riding her bike at different ages.
Reviewer #18
Reviewer #18
October 26, 2021
I agree with some other reviewers that the pictures and lyrics just don't match up well in some places but the illustrations and the story they tell are lovely. It's very sweet to see three generations share their love of experiencing nature and bike riding together.
November 27, 2021
Beautiful book which explores the journey of life for a young girl. Interestingly I like how we get to see the girl age up and have her own daughter - this book signifies the importance of remembering life and the moments within it.
March 4, 2021
The lyrics to John Lennon and paul McCartney's song "In My Life" accompanied with illustrations.
Something about this didn't work for me. If you love the Beatles, you will probably like this.
Something about this didn't work for me. If you love the Beatles, you will probably like this.
March 7, 2021
With the words from John Lennon and Paul McCartney we follow three generations of a family as they celebrate their lives and remember moments from every stage.
March 10, 2021
loss, grief
March 15, 2021
While I love a picture book based on a song, not every song makes a good picture book. This is one of those. Also, the illustrations don't relate to the lyrics at all, giving a disjointed feeling.
March 16, 2021
The lyrics of John and Paul's "In My Life" accompanies the story a daughter and her mother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2021
قد يكون أجمل كتاب على الاطلاق قرأته هذا العام. الكلمات والرسوم، الحياة كلها.
April 3, 2021
Soft, childlike watercolors portray the song's sweet, nostalgic feeling nicely.
April 27, 2021
Beautiful book with lovely illustrations.
July 11, 2021
Illustrations -5 stars! Absolutely gorgeous! It could have been a wordless book with how beautiful they were
Story- 2. It’s based on a song and is very awkward in a children’s picture book.
Story- 2. It’s based on a song and is very awkward in a children’s picture book.
September 21, 2021
Nicely written and the pictures are nicely done.
Read
November 14, 2021Vibrant lovely art that tells it's own story
November 26, 2021
Of course, I read the words with the music playing in my head. Delightful illustrations! And the story line surprised me. A perfect book for anyone who loves the Beatles.
December 29, 2021
I enjoyed this sweet look at the cycle of life. How we all go our separate ways in life but really end up circling each other all the while. It was ver serene and lovely.
February 8, 2022
Our nighttime lullaby turned into a generational picture book :)
March 14, 2022
Illustrations are gorgeous, but the story they tell doesn't seem to fit the text. Also, with the word "lovers" used several times, this doesn't feel like a children's book.
May 4, 2022
Liked the illustrations. Don't know that I had ever heard the song, but I listened to it after reading the book.
February 1, 2023
I can see how, for a bigger Beatles fan, using the text here could be important. For myself, the illustrations are the star here, and they would have been equally powerful as a wordless book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews