Review - David Bowie

David Bowie (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara
illustrated by Ana Albero
Date: 2019
Publisher: Lincoln Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

New in the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of David Bowie, the starman who dazzled audiences with his music.

As a child, young David had a head full of songs and ideas. He was inspired by the pop and mod scenes in Britain to pick up the saxophone. After earning his stripes in some of the coolest bands in London, David splashed onto the solo scene. His songwriting talent and musical skill made him one of rock and roll's all-time greatest artists. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the musician's life.

(synopsis from NetGalley; see it on Goodreads)

The books in this series have been hit or miss (mostly miss) for me, but this one is up there among some of the better ones I've read. It talks about David's early life, his passions for music, art, and performing, and even how he ended up with his distinctive eyes.

The main weakness this book has is its insistence on remaining vague. For example, it refers to "Space Oddity" in the main narrative as simply "a song about a lonely astronaut". It's a famous song! Could its name not have been mentioned in the main text?

The illustrations here aren't my favourite, and there's one confusing one where David's looking in a mirror and the wrong eye looks brown, but the rest of them help tell the story of this performer's life quite well. There aren't any obvious anachronisms, either (as there are in some of the other series titles).

Overall, this appears to be one of the stronger books in the series. I'd recommend this one to those looking for a simple biography of this legendary star.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lincoln Children's Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5