While cracking jokes and sporting shaggy hairstyles, the Beatles changed the world of music for an entire generation. This informational book shines a light on the humorous side of the “Fab Four.” Bibliography, Timeline

Q: How do you find all this business of having screaming girls following you all over the place?
George: Well, we feel flattered . . .
John: . . . and flattened. When the Beatles burst onto the music scene in the early 1960s, they were just four unknown lads from Liverpool. But soon their off-the-charts talent and offbeat humor made them the most famous band on both sides of the Atlantic. Lively, informative text and expressive, quirky paintings chronicle the phenomenal rise of Beatlemania, showing how the Fab Four's sense of humor helped the lads weather everything that was thrown their way—including jelly beans. ( )

Summary:
A cute way to do a biography for children to enjoy. I love how not only was this about The Beatles' up-and-coming, but it was upbeat and funny with the little quirky details such as the jellybabies. It discusses how they tried to stay silly and funny while they were trying to make it big in the industry of music, and then it flows into when Beatlemania exploded.

Personal Response:
I think I am going to buy this instead of renting it next time. I love The Beatles and their music, so it's even better to learn how they got to where they were, and how amazing they were to not give up. Music class only does so much to learn about them as a group. Plus, the pictures are just wonderful!

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1. Assign the students autobiography projects, dealing with famous musicians.
2. Have a musician dress up day, along with instruments. ( )

What made the Beatles so special was not only their memorable music, but their incredible sense of humor and fun as well. This book follows the Beatles through their most memorable moments in history, while also providing some information and interviews that the public may not be too familiar with. The point of this book is to educate children about this wonderful band.

The book summarizes the career of the Beatles. Begins with how the Beatles came together as a band, their rise to stardom and their impact on music. The prevalent theme was how funny they were, using humor because they were silly, using humor in the way they presented themselves to the public and press and also how they used humor to cope with the stress of being such a huge success. “Four years after ‘Love Me Do,’ Beatlemania had driven fans wild all over the world. But the Fab Four were forgetting how to laugh.” I really enjoyed how the authors used the theme of humor and the absence of humor in the end as perhaps what had held the group together. ( )