265. Who Was Frank Sinatra

Who Was Frank Sinatra. Ellen Labrecque. Illustrated by Manuel Gutierrez. (Who H.Q series). 2023. [July] 112 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: On December 30, 1942, two days before the new year, a slender singer walked onto the stage of the Paramount Theatre in New York City. Over three thousand fans--mostly teenage girls--shrieked and screamed in excitement. Some cried tears of happiness.

Premise/plot: Who Was Frank Sinatra? is part of a larger--much larger--series of kid-friendly biographies. This is an illustrated chapter book biography--elementary-aged-appropriate--of Frank Sinatra, singer and actor. The book provides a biography of his life, obviously, but also places that life into a larger context. This one includes many mini-biographies of his contemporaries and associates. 

My thoughts: Do kids need to know who Frank Sinatra was? Maybe. Maybe not. My introduction came via the musical High Society. So it was a delight that the illustrator includes an illustration of a movie scene from High Society. It covers his life and career in a very broad kid-friendly way. You don't necessarily associate details of his life with young kids, young readers. I do love his music and some of his movies.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers