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Book Review

Publisher's Note:

Grammy nominated musician Valerie June’s Somebody to Love: The Story of Valerie June's Sweet Little Baby Banjolele is a children’s book based on the story of how June wrote the song "Somebody to Love" from her album Pushin' Against a Stone. In the book, Valerie is a child given a toy banjolele. A banjolele is a very unique four-stringed musical instrument. It has a body like a small banjo, and the neck is like a ukulele. At the beginning, the baby banjolele dreams that its voice will soar and be heard all throughout the world, but very soon its musical journey meets with challenges and doubts. The little banjolele just could not play through a whole song! Valerie and banjolele want to play with the other instruments at school, but the others make fun of the banjolele saying " You're just a toy". Embarrassed the banjolele, once more, can not finish the song. But “I have a dream, and I want to sing,” the toy banjolele stubbornly refuses to give up. Finally, the toy finds the courage, and belief, and love it needs, coughs out a last bit of dust, and belts out a gorgeous a song. Valerie names the banjolele Baby and both go on to perform all over the world together forever. Valerie June the adult says of her banjolele: “As I traveled the world telling the story of my banjolele, I always knew it would make an uplifting children’s book. It wasn’t until I got a call from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities that I was encouraged to sit down and write it out. One of the nation’s most historical dreamers is Dr. Mar…

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Somebody to Love

Written by Valerie June and Illustrated by Marcela Avelar

Overall Book Review:

This picture book is a tribute to the author’s banjolele, a cross between a banjo and an ukulele. The author and illustrator inspire readers to never give up on their dreams. The illustrations are in the styling of Patricia Polacco – drawn with pencil and colored with vivid colors. The text is full of alliteration, rhyming, and onomatopoeia which lends to an engaging read. The main message is that sometimes dreams take a back seat, but it is never too late to return to them and fulfill them. Incorporated is the score of a song in the text with chords for a stringed instrument. There is also a list of famous dreamers and proverbs for dreamers. The pictures are beautiful and there isn’t too much text per page, which makes the story flow.

This book is great for readers who like to dream, who might be discouraged by the time it is taking to achieve their dreams, or who like fighting for an underdog.

Review of an Advance Reading Copy provided by the Publisher

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: None

Sex/Nudity: None

Mature Subject Matter:

None

Alcohol/Drug Use:

None

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
0
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
0
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
0
10

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About the Reviewer

My favorite books are ones that change me and my perceptions of the world in a significant way. My favorite genre is probably historical fiction with biographies as a close second.