41. Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews. Julie Hedlund. Illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, biography, music appreciation]
First sentence: Julia Elizabeth Wells was born into a melody--her childhood attuned to the timbre of her tiny English village where she heard music in the rhythm of the river, in the whistle of the wind, in the symphony of songbirds.
Premise/plot: Julie Hedlund has written a picture book biography of Julie Andrews. It focuses mainly on her childhood and her early start in music, in show business. It is only the last few pages that explores her life's work.
My thoughts: I have grown up loving Julie Andrews. Not just her work in the musicals I watched again and again and again and again, but also her work as an author. MANDY which she published under the name Julie Edwards is one of my all time favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite books.
This picture book is bittersweet in many ways. On the one hand, Julie discovers a great love of music. But on the other hand, there is a lot of sadness and confusion in her home life. It was sad that she was torn away from her father. That her mother forced her to call her stepdad, dad. That her mom forced a change of last name upon her. Music allowed her to express herself, but, still, my heart is sad for her childhood.
© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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