Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Imagine Hardcover – September 21, 2017 by John Lennon (Author), Jean Jullien (Illustrator) (Clarion Books)



Jullien introduces a new generation to Lennon's anthem for peace. Accompanied by text from "Imagine," vibrant images depict an intrepid pigeon flying about the city and delivering olive branches to encourage harmony. Large, flat, and thick-lined, the naive-style illustrations convey the enduring message of the song in a format that will resonate with a young audience. For example, a pair of seagulls squabbling over a fish ("Nothing to kill or die for,/and no religion too") begin smiling after the pigeon gives them a branch ("Imagine all the people/living life in peace"): a simple—and adorable—way to demonstrate the power to overcome discord. Later, the pigeon snoozes in a tree ("You may say I'm a dreamer") as other birds, touched by the pigeon's actions, fly by carrying branches of their own ("but I'm not the only one"). A colorful spread of the pigeon draping his wings around other birds emphasizes the overall message: "I hope someday you'll join us/and the world will live as one." VERDICT Adults will enjoy this creative take on a beloved song, and the book can easily blend with lessons about cooperation and sharing—and even age-appropriate lessons on global conflicts

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