Yellow Submarine

by The Beatles

A whole new generation will be climbing aboard this sunny, psychedelic storybook, while nostalgic Beatles fans of all ages will be clamoring for a ticket to ride.

Once upon a time (or maybe twice), some 80,000 leagues beneath the sea, there lay a colorful land of song and laughter called Pepperland, where Sergeant Pepper's Band was always playing your song — until the Blue Meanies burst on the scene and chased all the music and magic away. So began the classic 1968 film Yellow Submarine, inspired by a song and hailed as an avant-garde amalgam of pop art, Beatles music, and highly innovative animation. Now that film's dazzling images — and its lighthearted, witty tale — is showcased in a glorious picture book sure to be savored by fans and readers of all ages.

Genres: Music, Fiction, Childrens, Fantasy, Picture Books, Ebooks, Art

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this most recently with my kids. We were all crowded together on the lower bunk bed, heads all touching, looking up at my tiny iPod screen, and that was by far the most enjoyable part of the experience -- that pressure when people who love each other press their heads together.

The book in its iPod form just blows. In the move to high-tech hypertextuality, the kooky, trippy, wacky joy of Yellow Submarine is gone.

We didn't read it, and I didn't have a chance to be silly and deliver energy to the story; it was read to us in the most wooden, boring, monotone voice imaginable – Liverpudlian-lite accent and all. And if that wasn't bad enough, there were all these injected cut scenes: tap play on the screen, watch the scene from the original movie, and receive the awesome gift of realizing how shite the book is compared to the film.

It wasn’t horrible. The story is still fun, so even the poor delivery couldn’t completely destroy the experience, and hanging with my favourite folks is always a bonus, but sometimes technology doesn’t enhance an experience. Low tech can be good. It really can.

It sure is good when it comes to the Beatles.

[Nicolo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only attempted to read but I really couldn't finish it since the iBooks app I read it with kept on crashing in my iPad.

My impression on it was that the art was trippy for children's book. This wasn't an ordinary ebook though. It had clips from the animated movie embedded and the illustrations was animated. The Beatles talked funny though, since they couldn't resist dropping titles of their songs in their dialogue.

I really would have wanted to finish this but I couldn't stand the constant crashing. I have a lot more books to read to spend my time with rather than always restarting the app.

Try it though, it was free on iTunes that was why I got it. May you'll have better luck.

[Mariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this with the mental excuse of giving it to my little nieces. It might be still sitting on my own bookshelves... *coughs* (The ghosts of Christmas past, present and future might wanna stop by my house this year.) It's cute just like the movie. I love it when Ringo says he's a "born lever puller". Like Liverpool, get it? I wanna pull levers every chance I get (instead of pushing buttons).

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this book three stars, but Beatrice would give it five, so I split the difference. I think I've read it to her a hundred times (at least!)

The illustrations and all are straight from the Beatles movie as is the message "All you need is Love" (which Bea wonders around singing the day after we read it). The Blue Meanies have invaded Pepperland, freezing all the love and music. The Captain travels by yellow submarine to Liverpool where he picks up Ringo, George, John and Paul, who return with him to Pepperland to fight the Blue Meanies by becoming Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and bringing the music and love back.

It isn't the most fabulous kids book in the world, which is why I score it at 3 stars (average). There are definitely some "over their heads" moments that only Mommys and Daddys (or true Beatles fans) will get; in fact a lot of it can go over their heads. However, Beatrice (she's now 3 1/2) LOVES it. I don't know why.

What is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC about it was the introduction it gives to the kids about the Beatles. After reading it a few times, I remembered I had the CD and started playing the music from the movie, which the kids started singing and asking for. (We also got the movie and they've watched it a couple of times; requesting it occasion.) The first few times they heard the CD, they would ask, "Who's singing now?" or "Is John singing?" They now tell me who is singing which song. One of the best things was how excited they got hearing the music and wanting to call Papa and DayDay (my parents) to tell them all about it as if Papa and DayDay had never heard it before! That really made me giggle!

[Dane Cobain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was excellent, but then I guess I’m a little biased because I’m a Beatles fan. It also helped that it was a first edition printing and so it had all of those old school vibes, including a newspaper clipping from the time that I guess someone used as a bookmark. Although it’s not as though you actually need one because you can read the whole thing in one sitting.

One of the best things about this is the visuals. It looks beautiful and is printed in full colour with all of the psychedelic style that we know and love from the movie. Definitely one worth reading.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Pepperland 80,000 leagues beneath the sea it lay.... The book begins.
Probably the most colourful book you'll ever buy in your life I'd say. Every page is layered with it just like the film you remember...
The book zips along at a nice pace. Within a couple of pages Captain Fred is in the submarine and over the streets of Liverpool. We then meet Ringo, quickly meet John, George & Paul. Through the Sea of Monsters and then meet Jeremy.
Through the Sea of Holes and then back to Pepperland to battle against the meanies with songs.
My mum & I loved the original film and we both like the book now , but what Beatles fan hasn't eh?
Either way it's still a great book, adults and children alike.

[Andrew Lennon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book for free from iTunes. At that price it's a hell of a bargain!

This was more of an interactive comic rather than a book.
The story, I knew anyway from the movie, was trippy as hell, but it's still funny.
My daughter and I read this together and we both enjoyed it. I'd say the story is probably closer to three stars, but the interactive bits and the little video clips bumped it up to a four.

[Moira Macfarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved the Pop Art artwork popping off the pages. It is so distinctive and marks an era. I felt like stepping out of a time machine travelling way back to 1968 and entering a psychedelic world.

"Peace, peace, supplant the doom and the gloom. Turn off what is sour, turn into a flower and bloom, bloom, BLOOM!"

[gengengenana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved rereading this book. It brought back so many memories.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

CHANTIX dreams have better story lines!

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely delightful.

[Anne Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Yellow Submarine, the movie. This children's book captures the essence of the movie but I doubt that kids today would appreciate it as much as us oldsters who witnessed the original.

[Nick Chantarasak · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son's favourite book. It's witty, a lot of word play, and nicely illustrated. I can see how this led to McCartney's late career in writing children's books (like Hey Grandude).

I'm still discovering the jokes having read it a fair few bedtimes already.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reason for Reading: I love The Beatles and couldn't resist this homage to the fantastic film and song "Yellow Submarine".

Well, what can I say. If you loved the animated film you'll delight in this picture book. The plot of the book is a very condensed version of the film's plot, keeping the main idea but leaving out many sideplots. It *is* only 40 pages. The book's main glory is in it's illustration taken from/based on that of the film. I think parents/grandparents will be buying this one for the fun of reading it to their little ones who will certainly marvel at the illustrations and the fantastical world presented to them. The main plot centres around ridding Pepperland of the Blue Meanies but the central idea in the book to vanquishing them revolves around the theme/song "All You Need is Love". Grown ups will delight at the multitude of Beatles song titles thrown into the text such as: "Do we need a ticket to ride? asked George. "Only if we're taking the mystery tour," Ringo joked." and there is plenty of tongue in cheek Fab Four humour that adults will chuckle over such as "Frankenstein's a friend of yours?" Fred asked. "Oh, yeah. I used to go out with his sister ... Phyllis." A delightful picture book kids and adults will enjoy, both on different levels.

[Lafcadio · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would say that my reading comprehension level is pretty high. I would also say that my tolerance for the whimsical and the weird is pretty high. I would also say that my appreciation for The Beatles is pretty high. I would also say that my general enjoyment of children's picture books is pretty high.

And yet, this book is terrible. There are lots of interactive bits and things that move, but that might be all this book has going for it. The interactive bits and things that move don't really add to the story—in fact they slow it down and confuse it.

The story was hard to follow. There were strange bits thrown in almost as an afterthought that make the story harder to follow. It's unclear why anyone would seek help from The Beatles for anything. Names of characters exist in the text that don't seem to apply to any of the pictures. Song titles and lyrics appear throughout the text, and many of them are a stretch, again making the story more difficult to understand.

[Connor Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This interactive eBook features both video and audio clips from the movie it's based on, and allows the reader to interact with the characters. The imagery in the book assists the psychedelic storyline, and the book is full of witty word play ("The first time I saw that nobody," said Ringo proudly, "I knew he was a sombody."). Yellow Submarine inspires to expand our minds and challenges our imaginations in the most fun way possible. And most importantly, it teaches us about forgiveness and that love is all you need!

This book would be great for students who are kinesthetic learners, developing artists in the classroom, and just about anyone else is the world because it's the Beatles.

[Emanuella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Гледах интерактивната версия в iBooks (уж е книга, ама не е), която сама се чете, разлиства страниците си, има анимации, клипчета, песнички и игри на думи. Седиш и наблюдаваш халюцинациите на Бийтълс, изтрещяла работа! :D

[Donalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this picture book version of the Yellow Submarine as a time machine peek at my childhood, I'm not sure how it will play with today's readers.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free iBook....fun and interactive on my iPad!

[Harvey Hênio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Na quarta capa desse belo livro ilustrado está escrito o seguinte:

“Suba a bordo do submarino, viaje para uma terra em que há diamantes no céu e redescubra que tudo o que precisamos é amor”.

E não é que a sensação que temos (pelo menos foi sensação que eu tive) é essa mesmo (em que pese a evidente ingenuidade)?
Quando os Beatles ainda estavam juntos, em sua melhor fase criativa diga-se de passagem, em 1968, foi produzida a animação “Yellow Submarine” protagonizada pelos “Beatles animados” e com trilha sonora com canções da banda e outras – instrumentais - compostas pelo “5° Beatle”, o produtor dos maiores sucessos dos “fab four”, “Sir” George Martin (1926/2016).
Numa levada psicodélica e condizente com o espírito “flower power” a animação foi sucesso de público e de crítica.
Nos cinquenta anos da obra, celebrados em 2018, a “DARKSIDE GRAPHIC NOVEL” lançou essa impecável quadrinização da animação clássica de 1968.
Os responsáveis designados pela DARKSIDE, Bill Morrison, cineasta, artista “multimeios” e escritor, à frente, conseguiram manter o espírito psicodélico do original e a vibrante colorização valoriza a obra.
O final, por demais otimista e “alto astral”, que valoriza as “boas vibrações” e o poder do amor e da música são um alento nestes tempos tão tensos em que vivemos.
Confesso que a ausência das canções tirou um pouco do impacto da obra mas, mesmo com esse senão, é um belíssimo item de colecionador.
Excelente.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story for the book is adapted from the screenplay, but definitely highly adapted. A lot of The Beatles trademark witticisms, puns, and tongue-in-cheek humor are there - so much so that I laughed out loud several times. It leaves so much out that the film includes, though, that it seems unlikely that young readers who are first being introduced will be able to follow the storyline easily. That being said, Heinz Edelmann's artwork is and always has been amazing and unique. If you see these illustrations and are even the least little bit familiar with The Beatles, they are instantly recognizable, with gorgeous, bright, psychedelic pop art colors. 5 stars for the artwork but 3 for the adaptation.

[Noor Mahmood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was silly and witty. The humor was sarcastic and younger children might have a harder time trying to understand why somethings were said in the book. The book was just one big reference to The Beatles with song references throughout the book. The book was about coming together and saving the lonely heart club band with a little help from friends (John, Paul, Ringo, and George). They come together and save the band while defeating the enemy in the book with love. I love The Beatles so I understood each reference in the book but someone who doesn't care for them might be a bit confused throughout the book because there are so many references bu,t the should still be able to understand the premise of the book.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imo, without the music it just doesn't work. I am reminded though that I loved the Sea of Holes when I was younger. And is it just me, or do you think of Robin Williams when you see Jeremy Hilary Boob?

Rounded up to the third star because some of the text is more clear in print than in accented vocals, so now I have caught a couple of details. For example, thanks to another reviewer I see that 'born lever puller' is a play on 'Liverpooler.'

And yes now I do want to see the movie again.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this for Baby Story time. I don't think this is really a children's book. It's basically just the plot points and stills from the Yellow Submarine animated movie. Instead of reading the book, I gave the families bells/rattles to shake and be the band while we sang the song and looked at the pictures. I pinned some pages together, too.

[Lauren M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super condensed version of the comic book, this being targeted for kiddos.
While it's still fun and jaunty, I could only really recommend it for Beatle-loving parents or adults looking for a fun piece of Beatle merchandise.

Fun and colorful, and something I would read to kiddos after introducing them to the song Yellow Submarine!

[Yu tong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book as the birthday present from my friend. It’s soooooo cute I can’t 🥺… I love the original animate so much to the point I can’t help but screaming at the cover of the book. My rating is probably not about the book. I guess.

[Heather Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

megan spring reading 2017, children's book, picture book, the beatles, classic, yellow submarine, story book, movie tie-in, sing along,

[Paolo Nardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://speloncalibro.blogspot.it/2012...

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, magical read

[Lydia Duncalfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wacky and wonderful with some great psychedelic illustrations.