PPBF – Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews

As days shorten in the northern hemisphere, it’s a wonderful time to snuggle up, grab some popcorn, and enjoy a film featuring the subject of today’s Perfect Picture Book (after you & your littles have enjoyed reading this picture book, of course!).

Title: Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews

Written By: Julie Hedlund

Illustrated By: Ilaria Urbinati

Publisher/Date: Little Bee Books/2023

Suitable for Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: biography, music, theatre, perseverance, sharing talents

Opening:

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.

Brief Synopsis: The biography of beloved performer, Julie Andrews.

Links to Resources:

• As a child, Julie Andrews lived with her family in London, England, during World War II. Learn how World War II affected children’s lives there;
• Julie Andrews was a gifted singer who shared her talents with others, even as a child. What talents do you have? How can you share your gifts with others?
• Learn about and watch Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews’ award-winning first movie performance, and The Sound of Music, her second award-winning film;
• Read the Back Matter, including an Author’s Note and a Timeline of Julie Andrews’ life through 2022.

Why I Like this Book:

When I first learned about Song After Song, I was surprised that no one else had written a picture book about Julie Andrews. She is, after all, the face and voice of two classic, family-friendly movies, Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. But I’m glad that Hedlund is the first to tell Julie’s story, as Hedlund has written a biography that not only shares this icon’s story, but one that also inspires young readers how they, too, can overcome adversity to share their talents.

The bulk of Song After Song explores Julie Andrews’ childhood. From the difficult break up of her parents, to life with her mother, step-father, and brothers in war-torn London, Julie’s early life was far from the idyl fans may have imagined. I was particularly surprised to learn that Julie didn’t enjoy singing at first, at least not while her step-father tried to coach her. But thankfully for those of us who have loved her music for over half a century, Julie soon found joy singing under the tutelage of a famed London singer and teacher. Julie’s career as a singer grew, and readers experience a high point of her young life in two spreads highlighting her performance at a Royal Variety Performance attended by the queen of England.

But this picture book biography doesn’t end on this high note. Like Andrews’ life, it continues to crescendo. “Song after song,” readers learn, Julie Andrews “captivated audiences onstage and onscreen” as an adult performer. Perhaps most importantly for young readers who also might experience adversity or who might not be able to share their talents as they had hoped, Hedlund also highlights how Julie “used her voice to bring people joy” by writing children’s books, even after she stopped singing.

Complementing the lyrical, music-inspired text, Urbinati’s lovely illustrations not only capture the scenes of Julie’s life accurately, but include whimsical details that foreshadow things to come or that give glimpses into the thoughts and feelings of young Julie.

A Note about Craft:

Hedlund weaves musical language throughout the text, a fitting accompaniment to a biography about one of the world’s most beloved singers and performers.

Julie Andrews is alive, and she and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, reviewed Hedlund’s text for accuracy. Access to your subject is a definite benefit of choosing a living subject when writing a picture book biography!

This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!