41. Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews

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

15-17. Three nonfiction picture book biographies

15. Through the Telescope: Mae Jemison Dreams of Space. Charles R. Smith. Illustrated by Evening Monteiro. 2025. 45 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book biography]

First sentence: Planet Earth,
Chicago,
USA,
through a telescope
stared
a little girl named Mae.

Premise/plot: This is a very abstract, seemingly poetic picture book biography of Mae Jemison.

My thoughts: The artistic vision is there, but, for me at least I didn't "catch" the vision of the author and illustrator. I felt it a little too abstract and 'artistic'. That's not to say the entire book is that abstract. Some pages read closer to a biography. But this one just wasn't for me, and it wasn't because I'm disinterested in space or astronauts.

16. Snowshoe Kate and the Hospital Built for Pennies. Margi Preus. Illustrated by Jaime Zollars. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book biography]

First sentence: The night I was born, the doctor arrived on snowshoes. A blizzard raged outside, knocking out the power, so I was delivered by match light. Forever after, I was called "Dr. Kate's match baby." Like most of Dr. Kate's patients, our family lived in the snowy northern woods of Wisconsin.

Premise/plot: This is a picture book biography of Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb.

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved, loved this picture book biography. I loved "meeting" Dr. Kate through the pages of this book. I loved learning more about her, her career, and the people she inspired. It is a story of hope and community. How her community came together and inspired--in ever increasing circles--others to build a hospital for their community--one penny at a time. YES, one penny at a time. So what seemed like an impossible, daunting task became a reality one small step at a time.

17. That Swingin' Sound: The Musical Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Rekha S. Rajan. Illustrated by Ken Daley. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book biography]

First sentence: Ella Fitzgerald loved to dance. When little Ella heard jazz music, she stood on her tiptoes and twirled around the room. She felt the music notes move her legs as she danced as gracefully as a bluebird flying through the skies.

Premise/plot: A biography of Ella Fitzgerald AND Louis Armstrong?!?! YES PLEASE.

My thoughts: I have read a handful of picture book biographies on Louis Armstrong. (He's a favorite.) I have also read [at least one] a couple of picture book biographies on Ella Fitzgerald. In general, when I see the library order a new jazzy-jazz picture book, I put it on hold immediately. I don't wait to read reviews. I don't give it a second thought. It's just a must for me to read and review. I enjoyed this one very much. I loved the story. I loved the illustrations. IT was  GREAT read. And, yes, I had to listen to some jazz after reading this one.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews