John’s Secret Dreams: The Life of John Lennon

Illustrated by Bryan Collier; Hyperion Books, 2004.

“Striking in both its simplicity and complexity, this heartfelt biography captures this enigmatic singer, artist, songwriter, and folk hero in a way that will move and fascinate those too young to remember the man but are surrounded by his music and myth.” School Library Journal

"Rappaport and Collier combine a spare, poetic text and watercolor-and-collage illustrations to introduce readers to John Lennon and as varied references as Lewis Carroll, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, the war in Vietnam, and the civil rights movement. A lively, if unusual, take on the pop-culture icon, whose music is as fresh today as it was then.” Kirkus Reviews

“This ambitious picture book reveals plenty of research and an affinity for the subject. Formatted in brief lines, the text describes pivotal moments in Lennon’s life, interspersing lines from his songs in larger colored type.” The Horn Book, Inc.

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