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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Who is Bob Dylan

Who is Bob Dylan

by, Jim O' Connor, Illustrated by, John O'Brien
New York, New York, Grosset & Dunlap
102 pages, Chapter Book

As a product of the 60's, surrounded by HUGE fans of Bob Dylan, I felt it was my duty to review this children's biography of Bob Dylan.  I also hoped it would help me understand what makes him so interesting to so many people, and where the inspiration for his music came from.  I also really liked the drawing of Dylan on the cover

We learn that Bob was born Robert Zimmerman.  At an early age he became interested in music and taught himself to play the piano and the guitar, after just one lesson from his teacher.  He was inspired by artists such as Little Richard, with his flamboyant style and musical skill.  Once he became older, and went off to college, he spent as much time as he could honing his musical skills and becoming more well known around town.  As he became more famous, he became instrumental in the Civil Rights movement writing and singing songs, that inspired those fighting against racial injustice.  His famous song, "Blowin' in the Wind" is about those battles.  The meaning of the song, is that the answers we're looking for are sometimes right in front of us, if we just look.  After a life of writing music, performing and inspiring countless people, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2012. 

The biography is well-written for children, as it doesn't go into much detail, but gives enough information to make it interesting for the young reader.  

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