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Imagine
Imagine all the people living life in peace.
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will be as one.
Join one little pigeon as she sets out on a journey to spread a message of tolerance around the world. Featuring the lyrics of John Lennon’s iconic song and illustrations by the award-winning artist Jean Jullien, this poignant and timely picture book dares to imagine a world at peace.Imaginewill be published in partnership with human rights organization, Amnesty International.
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will be as one.
Join one little pigeon as she sets out on a journey to spread a message of tolerance around the world. Featuring the lyrics of John Lennon’s iconic song and illustrations by the award-winning artist Jean Jullien, this poignant and timely picture book dares to imagine a world at peace.Imaginewill be published in partnership with human rights organization, Amnesty International.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 21, 2017
About the author
John Lennon
571books1,969followersJohn Winston Ono Lennon, MBE, was an English singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, and together with Paul McCartney formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century.
Born and raised in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager, his first band, The Quarrymen, evolving into The Beatles in 1960. As the group began to undergo the disintegration that led to their break-up towards the end of that decade, Lennon launched a solo career that would span the next decade, punctuated by critically acclaimed albums, including John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Imagine, and iconic songs such as "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine".
Lennon revealed a rebellious nature and acerbic wit in his music, his writing, on film, and in interviews, and became controversial through his work as a peace activist. He moved to New York City in 1971, where his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a lengthy attempt by Richard Nixon's administration to deport him, while his songs were adapted as anthems by the anti-war movement. Disengaging himself from the music business in 1975 to devote time to his family, Lennon reemerged in October 1980 with a new single and a comeback album, Double Fantasy, but was murdered weeks after their release on the sidewalk outside his home in the Dakota. Ironically, "Imagine" (imagine all the people, living life in peace) was a featured cut from this album.
Lennon's album sales in the United States alone stand at 14 million units, and as performer, writer, or co-writer he is responsible for 27 number one singles on the US Hot 100 chart. In 2002, a BBC poll on the 100 Greatest Britons voted him eighth, and in 2008 Rolling Stone ranked him the fifth greatest singer of all time. He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
--Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia --
Born and raised in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager, his first band, The Quarrymen, evolving into The Beatles in 1960. As the group began to undergo the disintegration that led to their break-up towards the end of that decade, Lennon launched a solo career that would span the next decade, punctuated by critically acclaimed albums, including John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Imagine, and iconic songs such as "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine".
Lennon revealed a rebellious nature and acerbic wit in his music, his writing, on film, and in interviews, and became controversial through his work as a peace activist. He moved to New York City in 1971, where his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a lengthy attempt by Richard Nixon's administration to deport him, while his songs were adapted as anthems by the anti-war movement. Disengaging himself from the music business in 1975 to devote time to his family, Lennon reemerged in October 1980 with a new single and a comeback album, Double Fantasy, but was murdered weeks after their release on the sidewalk outside his home in the Dakota. Ironically, "Imagine" (imagine all the people, living life in peace) was a featured cut from this album.
Lennon's album sales in the United States alone stand at 14 million units, and as performer, writer, or co-writer he is responsible for 27 number one singles on the US Hot 100 chart. In 2002, a BBC poll on the 100 Greatest Britons voted him eighth, and in 2008 Rolling Stone ranked him the fifth greatest singer of all time. He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
--Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia --
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
December 19, 2018
Ever since I first listened to John Lennon'sImagine,it has been one of my absolutely all-time favourite songs, not only for the sweet rebellion of totally freaking out my parents and grandparents as a teenager and having them think I was a raging and dangerous Communist just because I happened to enjoy and love the song (and then seeing them dumbfounded and even more angry that when instead of feeling insulted by this appellation, I said to them simply and smilingly "thank you for the compliment" in very polite German, although politically, Communism is problematic at best for and to me, but heck, my parents and grandparents absolutely did need a taste of very bitter medicine which I was gladly and more than willing to provide), but even more so of course for the actual lyrics ofImaginethemselves, which in my opinion are not only a hymn of peace, of universal brotherhood, of human rights, love and acceptance for ALL, but are actually much closer to God and to the historical Jesus Christ than ANY religious based text that I have personally ever read, and yes, indeed, this also very much includes the Bible. For quite frankly and in my opinion, John Lennon is with hisImagineNOT anti the idea of a supreme being, not anti deity, but against organised religion of ALL sorts, including the human (and thus secular, often not at all tolerant and loving) concepts of heaven and hell (and even though Lennon's lyrics might be deemed anathema to and for so-called religious fundamentalists, for me,Imagineis with its call for universal peace and tolerance, spiritualism pure, and yes, the loving your fellow man dictum preached by the historic Jesus Christ himself before his words and legacy were tainted and destroyed by Paul of Tarsus and many other "founding" fathers of Christianity both historical and more recent, for if there is a God, God is love and tolerance and anything less than this, is at best sad and at worst very dangerous if not profoundly evil).
And with my above musings in mind, I absolutely love this here 2017 picture book, simply and evocatively titled like the John Lennon song, and also showing only the lyrics ofImaginewith no additions or subtractions (although there is a lovely foreword by John's widow Yoko Ono Lennon which touches me precisely because she says everything that has also always made this particular song special to me, and yes, she is indeed more than right about the sorry fact that today, we need the sentiments and the viewpoints of John Lennon and especially hisImaginemore than ever). Most highly recommended (and although by themselves, I would consider Jean Jullien's accompanying illustrations a trifle too cartoon like for my aesthetics, the pictures work amazingly well with Lennon's glowing and so evocatively essential lyrics, and I do love the sweet idea of the dove's journey with its olive branch, as to me it reminds me of Noah's dove finally finding a peaceful utopian nirvana of universal peace, tolerance and both collective and individual happiness).
And with my above musings in mind, I absolutely love this here 2017 picture book, simply and evocatively titled like the John Lennon song, and also showing only the lyrics ofImaginewith no additions or subtractions (although there is a lovely foreword by John's widow Yoko Ono Lennon which touches me precisely because she says everything that has also always made this particular song special to me, and yes, she is indeed more than right about the sorry fact that today, we need the sentiments and the viewpoints of John Lennon and especially hisImaginemore than ever). Most highly recommended (and although by themselves, I would consider Jean Jullien's accompanying illustrations a trifle too cartoon like for my aesthetics, the pictures work amazingly well with Lennon's glowing and so evocatively essential lyrics, and I do love the sweet idea of the dove's journey with its olive branch, as to me it reminds me of Noah's dove finally finding a peaceful utopian nirvana of universal peace, tolerance and both collective and individual happiness).
October 3, 2017
How quaint that I should pick up this dream of peace on a day when Puerto Rico and other islands off the mainland are in devastation, and when a guy with 17 legally purchased automatic rifles has killed (as of this writing) 59 people, with more than 500 injured. Naive? But some of us old hippies and young dreamers are still around, trying to give peace a chance. There are perhaps dozens of books and hundreds of projects based on this one song, which would seem to have plenty to offend religious extremists and capitalists. The art is lovely, by Jean Jullien. It's kind of a crazy song, really, so utopian and socialist and peaceful and kind of existential:
Imagine all the people sharing all the world
Imagine all the people living life in peace
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
Imagine
John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world, you
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine all the people sharing all the world
Imagine all the people living life in peace
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
Imagine
John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world, you
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
May 2, 2018
This book is the lyrics to the song Imagine which is one of my favorite songs ever. I love thinking about all the things that separate us not being there. We can see each other as simply people worthy of love. It's wonderful. I love the words to this book.
I didn't think the illustrations and the birds lived up to the song. The little story of the pigeon was a little weak to me. It was fine, but nothing earth shattering.
The kids thought it was good. They have heard the song so the lyrics sparked an idea. So we listened to the song and looked at the pictures. That worked pretty well.
I didn't think the illustrations and the birds lived up to the song. The little story of the pigeon was a little weak to me. It was fine, but nothing earth shattering.
The kids thought it was good. They have heard the song so the lyrics sparked an idea. So we listened to the song and looked at the pictures. That worked pretty well.
December 3, 2017
Beautiful - just what I needed with everything going on in the world today.
December 23, 2018
A picture-book presentation of John Lennon's famous song, with the artwork of expatriate French illustrator Jean Jullien,Imaginedepicts a pigeon flying the world, proverbial olive branch in beak, seeking to unite the birds of the world into one peaceful community...
A project done in partnership with Amnesty International, this picture-book contains a forward by Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, and is meant to highlight the importance of peaceful coexistence and human rights. I'm not really a great fan of picture-books whose text is simply a presentation of a famous song, as such titles often lack any coherent sense of story, or narrative. Here, the effect is rather contemplative though, and I did enjoy Jullien's artwork, done in brush and ink, and then completed digitally. Recommended primarily to John Lennon fans, or to those looking to introduce the concept of worldwide peace to the picture-book set.
A project done in partnership with Amnesty International, this picture-book contains a forward by Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, and is meant to highlight the importance of peaceful coexistence and human rights. I'm not really a great fan of picture-books whose text is simply a presentation of a famous song, as such titles often lack any coherent sense of story, or narrative. Here, the effect is rather contemplative though, and I did enjoy Jullien's artwork, done in brush and ink, and then completed digitally. Recommended primarily to John Lennon fans, or to those looking to introduce the concept of worldwide peace to the picture-book set.
September 25, 2017
First sentence: Imagine there's no heaven. It's easy if you try. No hell below us. Above us, only sky. Imagine all the people living for today.
Premise/plot: This picture book shares the lyrics of John Lennon's song, "Imagine" with a new generation. The illustrations are by Jean Jullien. His illustrations feature birds flocking together in search of peace.
My thoughts: I'll be completely honest. I hate the song Imagine. I loathe it. If hell has an anthem, I bet it would be Imagine. (You might think hell's anthem would have to be punk or rock or something hard or harsh--something openly rebellious.)
The premise of Imagine is theologically flawed and spiritually dangerous. That premise is that deep down man is GOOD. If man is "bad" it's because of "external" notions that he's brainwashed with by society. Notions such as good and evil, right and wrong, just and unjust, truth and lies. Strip away these external notions of absolutes and what you're left with is a purer, cleaner, ultimately GOOD man.
(Lennon's premise is at odds with the Bible Genesis to Revelation. I could list hundreds if not thousands of "proofs" that this is so. I won't. I'll limit it to two. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." )
Saying something is true, doesn't make it true in reality. Therein lies the danger. You can say 2+2=5 because I want it to be 5 and not 4. But that doesn't make it so. You can argue it many different ways. I feel oppressed by the idea that 2+2=4. I feel free and liberated when I say 2+2=3 or 2+2=5 or 2+2=18. I don't want anyone telling me that 2+2=4 is the only true answer. Why can't 2+2=7 be just as true as 2+2=4? Why isn't 7 just as good a number as 4? Who are you to say that 7 ISN'T as good as 4? You do math your way, I'll do math my way. After all what difference does it make?! Live and let live, right?!?!
When you mess around with absolutes, when you build your life on false truths, chances are that your mistakes will only multiply and escalate. It's rare to be wrong about just one little thing. (2+2=5) After all, if 2+2=5, then what does 2+3 equal? Your whole world can be built around false premises and false foundations.
I could pick apart just about any line in the lyric. But I'll focus on this one: Imagine all the people living for today. We don't have to imagine what that looks like. We don't. We can see that in Genesis. We can see that in Exodus. We can see that in Judges. We can see that in 1 and 2 Kings. We can see that in Old Testament and New. We can see that in the here and now. Open your eyes. Look around you. The world is full of people who live LIFE FOR TODAY. The struggle is do you see people NOT living life for today? Do you see people living life in light of eternity? It is rare to see someone really willing to live life with heaven in mind. How many are really anxious and excited about living holy lives that are pleasing to God? That is something that would take imagination. Everyone living as he or she sees fit--that takes zero imagination.
One more word. This song proclaims to be all about peace. But I challenge that notion of peace. There is no peace so long as we are at war with God. There is no peace apart from Christ. True peace can be found in no other--established in no other.
Imagine ultimately reminds me of the book of Jeremiah. In his day, there were prophets--even priests--saying PEACE, PEACE, ALL IS WELL, ALL IS GOOD. BLESSINGS FOR EVERYONE. But these false words of hope were condemned by the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah 6:14 reads, "They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace."
Read Jeremiah 23. Here is Jeremiah 23:17, "They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’"
Text: 0 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 3 out of 10
Premise/plot: This picture book shares the lyrics of John Lennon's song, "Imagine" with a new generation. The illustrations are by Jean Jullien. His illustrations feature birds flocking together in search of peace.
My thoughts: I'll be completely honest. I hate the song Imagine. I loathe it. If hell has an anthem, I bet it would be Imagine. (You might think hell's anthem would have to be punk or rock or something hard or harsh--something openly rebellious.)
The premise of Imagine is theologically flawed and spiritually dangerous. That premise is that deep down man is GOOD. If man is "bad" it's because of "external" notions that he's brainwashed with by society. Notions such as good and evil, right and wrong, just and unjust, truth and lies. Strip away these external notions of absolutes and what you're left with is a purer, cleaner, ultimately GOOD man.
(Lennon's premise is at odds with the Bible Genesis to Revelation. I could list hundreds if not thousands of "proofs" that this is so. I won't. I'll limit it to two. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." )
Saying something is true, doesn't make it true in reality. Therein lies the danger. You can say 2+2=5 because I want it to be 5 and not 4. But that doesn't make it so. You can argue it many different ways. I feel oppressed by the idea that 2+2=4. I feel free and liberated when I say 2+2=3 or 2+2=5 or 2+2=18. I don't want anyone telling me that 2+2=4 is the only true answer. Why can't 2+2=7 be just as true as 2+2=4? Why isn't 7 just as good a number as 4? Who are you to say that 7 ISN'T as good as 4? You do math your way, I'll do math my way. After all what difference does it make?! Live and let live, right?!?!
When you mess around with absolutes, when you build your life on false truths, chances are that your mistakes will only multiply and escalate. It's rare to be wrong about just one little thing. (2+2=5) After all, if 2+2=5, then what does 2+3 equal? Your whole world can be built around false premises and false foundations.
I could pick apart just about any line in the lyric. But I'll focus on this one: Imagine all the people living for today. We don't have to imagine what that looks like. We don't. We can see that in Genesis. We can see that in Exodus. We can see that in Judges. We can see that in 1 and 2 Kings. We can see that in Old Testament and New. We can see that in the here and now. Open your eyes. Look around you. The world is full of people who live LIFE FOR TODAY. The struggle is do you see people NOT living life for today? Do you see people living life in light of eternity? It is rare to see someone really willing to live life with heaven in mind. How many are really anxious and excited about living holy lives that are pleasing to God? That is something that would take imagination. Everyone living as he or she sees fit--that takes zero imagination.
One more word. This song proclaims to be all about peace. But I challenge that notion of peace. There is no peace so long as we are at war with God. There is no peace apart from Christ. True peace can be found in no other--established in no other.
Imagine ultimately reminds me of the book of Jeremiah. In his day, there were prophets--even priests--saying PEACE, PEACE, ALL IS WELL, ALL IS GOOD. BLESSINGS FOR EVERYONE. But these false words of hope were condemned by the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah 6:14 reads, "They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace."
Read Jeremiah 23. Here is Jeremiah 23:17, "They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’"
Text: 0 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 3 out of 10
December 29, 2017
I hate being the naysayer, but I think I liked theideaof this book more than I actually liked the book. I love the song and I love the message behind it, and I appreciate what they were trying to achieve with this book, but I think it just fell short. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with this book, but I felt like the lyrics toImaginework much better in song format than they do in a picture book. I actually think the forward by Yoko Ono Lennon was the best part of the book.
The bold, colorful illustrations are appealing. I enjoyed seeing Pigeon's story told though the pictures, and how it corresponded with the lyrics. (Actually, I "read" the book a second time, just looking at the illustrations, and I think I liked the story and book more when I wasn't reading the text with it. It's a sweet, happy story.) I also love that a portion of the book's proceeds will go toAmnesty International.But, all that said, I thinkImaginewill appeal more to Beatles fans than young readers.
The bold, colorful illustrations are appealing. I enjoyed seeing Pigeon's story told though the pictures, and how it corresponded with the lyrics. (Actually, I "read" the book a second time, just looking at the illustrations, and I think I liked the story and book more when I wasn't reading the text with it. It's a sweet, happy story.) I also love that a portion of the book's proceeds will go toAmnesty International.But, all that said, I thinkImaginewill appeal more to Beatles fans than young readers.
October 16, 2017
Imagine es de las pocas canciones de Lennon, y The Beatles en general, que me gusta especialmente.
Creo que es una letra interesante para reconocer la importancia que tiene el vivir en paz, especialmente la que viene de aceptar las diferencias y trabajar en conjunto.
Me gusta el mensaje que la pequeña palomita de esta historia da a la humanidad, y lo que se puede resaltar también es que las regalías de este libro van a Amnistía Internacional.
Es un álbum ilustrado que merece bastante la pena, así que si les llama la atención háganse con él.
Creo que es una letra interesante para reconocer la importancia que tiene el vivir en paz, especialmente la que viene de aceptar las diferencias y trabajar en conjunto.
Me gusta el mensaje que la pequeña palomita de esta historia da a la humanidad, y lo que se puede resaltar también es que las regalías de este libro van a Amnistía Internacional.
Es un álbum ilustrado que merece bastante la pena, así que si les llama la atención háganse con él.
March 8, 2020
I have always loathed this atheistic/communist song. The lyrics are truly awful. I hope someone writes a book that picks the lyrics of this song apart someday and exposes the song for what it really is someday. That's what I was looking for when I found this book online.
September 22, 2017
If you want to introduce young people to "Imagine," play them the song.
September 23, 2017
I believe the teachers enjoyed this beautifully written book more than the students, but that's okay! The message is one of peace and perfect for our Peace Day Assembly in the elementary. We played the song along with the book and then broke off to have discussions about peace in our classrooms. I highly recommend this book to ANYONE!
September 18, 2017
:Imagine all the people.. living life in peace "a beautiful picture book that illustrates the classic by John Lennon" Imagine "as the lyrics take the page through art, it follows a piegon to demonstrate peace to help us enjoy our life, for peace to flourish and for everyone to treat all kindly, equally and fairly. It was really nice to read this - very refreshing, it also brought back wonderful memories of my late uncle who loved John Lennon and the Beatles. Special thanks to Allen and Unwin Publishers for sending me an Advanced Review Copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 26, 2017
Beautiful images that complement the thoughtful prose by John Lennon
My View:
5 big stars for this beautifully imagined and illustrated book – this really is art with heart! Call me sentimental, I will agree with you that I am, this book just strikes so many chords with me. A book for those who can remember John Lennon’s important song of love and peace (and for those who still sing his inspiring relevant message even if just in their own heads) and for the next generation – who will love the prose, the illustrations and the optimism.
Buy this for someone you love – young or old.
My View:
5 big stars for this beautifully imagined and illustrated book – this really is art with heart! Call me sentimental, I will agree with you that I am, this book just strikes so many chords with me. A book for those who can remember John Lennon’s important song of love and peace (and for those who still sing his inspiring relevant message even if just in their own heads) and for the next generation – who will love the prose, the illustrations and the optimism.
Buy this for someone you love – young or old.
October 26, 2017
Pigeons - my tween immediately linked this to the peace dove. I had to make the other links for her; who John Lennon was, the origins of the song, its relevance to our world and those who people it today. Can those who aspire for rainbows and dreamers change the world? Can picture books save us all? I believe they can. Ones like these unquestionably. Jean Jullien's chunky colour-filled illustrations are the perfect balance to Lennon's masterful lyrics. Imagine sharing this kind of hope with your little ones.
November 2, 2017
Read it twice. The first time, read the words at look at how the pictures associate with the words. The second time, really pay attention to the illustrations, because you probably already know the words.
November 30, 2017
I can't describe my emotions atm. This book is so beautiful a children's book centered around a song of peace and hope. So my friends who loved Skam remember when a whole bar full of people joined in on Imagine with Even and Isak.
September 26, 2017
I have to sing along instead of read along.
October 9, 2017
Pretty and simple illustrations that amplify the powerful words of the song.
October 15, 2017
Huge thank you to Raincoast for this ARC!
I don't normally review picture books on my blog, despite reading a lot of them as part of my job at the library. That being said, I couldn't resist checking out this beautiful picture book put to the lyrics of John Lennon'sImagine.
There is a wonderful simplicity to the artwork, as you're watching this pigeon explore the world around him, trying to unify people. Ultimately that was Lennon's message on a whole, finding peace, loving others regardless of race, gender, colour, sexuality or creed. He believed that one day the world would be "one" and peace would defeat war. We need the hope thatImagineprovides to remind us that people are not inherently evil.
I enjoyed Yoko Ono's forward in the book and he discussion of John Lennon's thought process when he craftedImagine,and what he hoped from the world. She said that we needImaginenow more than ever because the world isn't "one" and hope must triumph over despair. This picture book is a lovely addition to anyone's picture book collection and worth the read with your loved ones.
I don't normally review picture books on my blog, despite reading a lot of them as part of my job at the library. That being said, I couldn't resist checking out this beautiful picture book put to the lyrics of John Lennon'sImagine.
There is a wonderful simplicity to the artwork, as you're watching this pigeon explore the world around him, trying to unify people. Ultimately that was Lennon's message on a whole, finding peace, loving others regardless of race, gender, colour, sexuality or creed. He believed that one day the world would be "one" and peace would defeat war. We need the hope thatImagineprovides to remind us that people are not inherently evil.
I enjoyed Yoko Ono's forward in the book and he discussion of John Lennon's thought process when he craftedImagine,and what he hoped from the world. She said that we needImaginenow more than ever because the world isn't "one" and hope must triumph over despair. This picture book is a lovely addition to anyone's picture book collection and worth the read with your loved ones.
October 18, 2017
Like John's message in his song IMAGINE, this picture book is simple in it's words and illustrations, but powerful in it's message of peace, and unity. Written for young readers in mind, all who read this book will feel empowered to make a difference in making our world a better place. Even the youngest of readers will understand the kind gestures the pigeon in this story is doing, and how it makes the other birds in this book feel.
Quoting Yoko Ono Lennon from the forward in this book,
"Everyone wants to feel happy and to feel safe. And we can all help make the world a better place in our own way. We should alway keep love in our hearts, and look after on another. We should always are what we have, and we should stand up for people who are not being treated fairly."
I love this. Imagine what it would be like if we all did our part, no matter how big or how little, to make sure other's felt happy and safe. Much like the pigeon in this story, even the smallest gestures of kindness and doing good, go a long way, and make a difference.
FULL REVIEWhttp://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2017/0...
Quoting Yoko Ono Lennon from the forward in this book,
"Everyone wants to feel happy and to feel safe. And we can all help make the world a better place in our own way. We should alway keep love in our hearts, and look after on another. We should always are what we have, and we should stand up for people who are not being treated fairly."
I love this. Imagine what it would be like if we all did our part, no matter how big or how little, to make sure other's felt happy and safe. Much like the pigeon in this story, even the smallest gestures of kindness and doing good, go a long way, and make a difference.
FULL REVIEWhttp://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2017/0...
October 31, 2017
Jean Jullien has become one of my favorite picture book illustrators. His pictures are simple, yet bold, and always imbued with a sense of sly humor. Maybe it's that same style that seems unsuited to the text here. The juxtaposition of a cartoony pigeon, a symbolic olive branch always in its beak, with the serious and hopeful words just felt really trite to me. For instance, the lyrics "Nothing to kill or die for / and no religion too" are represented by two gulls squabbling over a mildly annoyed looking fish, and while I understand this is a children's book trying to explain the abstract concept of peace, it still didn't feel weighty enough to me.
November 6, 2017
Yoko Ono offers a lovely intro, Jean Jullien brings gorgeous illustrations with black outlining, and then, these beautiful words by John Lennon bring again his wish for peace. A pigeon works hard bringing branches of peace to everyone, gathering with other kinds of birds, who also begin to share the branches. The page that illustrates “You may say I’m a dreamer” showed the pigeon leaning back, “not the only one”. We need these words today! The proceeds to the book, published by Clarion Books, go to Amnesty International.
October 3, 2017
I loved this picture book of the lovely John Lennon song "Imagine". Finally it is a picture book for children to enjoy for themselves. It also fits me theologically because I have agnostic leanings with a Unitarian/Universalist background. The line "Imagine there's no heaven" may bother Christians but I'm okay with it, because I don't believe in hell either.
Read it yourself to hum along with the words.
Read it yourself to hum along with the words.
January 25, 2018
This picture book uses the lyrics from John Lennon's song Imagine and puts them in picture book format. Very short sentences per page and large pictures. However the first lyrics of "Imagine there's no heaven" and "No hell below us" might not be storytime appropriate depending upon your patrons.
June 1, 2018
I was a bit disappointed in this book, too. I couldn't help looking at the illustrations and thinking about the bookDon't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!.Yes, it is a lovely song and I truly like it, but it isn't realistic to think the world, especially the animal world, could live like this. Birds eat the fish; they don't stop squabbling over it and take up an olive branch. Large birds eat smaller birds; they don't sit on telephone wires together and link wings in friendship. Somehow, instead of birds, I would rather have seen people, trying to live together in peace, building components of society together.
October 28, 2019
Един гълъб се отправя на пътешествие, носейки послание за мир, разбирателство и толерантност. Една от най-емблематичните песни, писани някога се превръща в детска илюстрована книга. Един вечен текст достига до нас под нова форма и на два езика – в римувания английски оригинал и български превод в проза. „Imagine” от Джон Ленън идва нарисуван от Жан Жулиен и се понася на „Книжни Криле”. Част от печалбата от продажбата на книгата на изд. „Кибеа” ще бъде дарена на „Амнести Интернешънъл “. Прочетете ревюто на" Книжни Криле ":https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
December 16, 2017
Notes of John Lennon's iconic song are placed with a backdrop of Jean jullien's illustrations of a pigeon who spreads a message of peace and tolerance. Just like the song, this book has a sweet message that will be accessible to children through colorful pictures such as the ones of the birds of different colors together. The text also has a note from Yoko Ono Lennon and afterward from Amnesty International. Lovely book.
January 5, 2018
A beautifully illustrated picture book capturing the incredibly simple yet earth-shatteringly powerful message of one of John Lennon's best pieces of songwriting, published in conjunction with Amnesty International - what could possibly be a better, more important thing to share with very young children in the world we're living in right now? *Goes to the store immediately to buy a dozen copies to hand out to every little kid she knows*
January 3, 2018
I love John Lennon and I love that this book exists. I think it’s so important that everyone knows the themes of John Lennon’s “Imagine” and how everyone can live in peace no matter what. All the birds were different, just like all people all. I’m so glad that John Lennon is still inspiring us today. This was so excellent to read.
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