Yellow Submarine FROM OUR EDITORS
The Barnes & Noble Review
First it was a song, then an animated movie, and now it's a children's book. Four decades after its release as both a recording and a movie, the Beatles' Yellow Submarine still maintains its childlike charm and surrealist fascination. Officially sanctioned by Apple, the Beatles' business arm, the children's book follows the Fab Four on their adventure-filled journey through Pepperland, where, after a series of comic adventures, they triumph over the evil Blue Meanies. Abbreviated though the tale may be when compared to the still-popular 1968 film, the book abounds in many of the film's delightful characteristics: in particular, outrageously pun-filled dialogue ("John gazed out of a porthole. 'There's a school of whales.' 'They look a bit old for school,' George said. 'University then. University of Wales!' said John.") Also retained are the psychedelic, Pop Art–driven illustrations of Heinz Edelmann that gave the film such a distinctive flair. The only crucial element missing is the Beatles' music, but if you don't already have it on hand, you probably won't be interested in the book in the first place.
Steve Futterman
ANNOTATION
At the request of a befuddled emissary from Pepperland, four lads from Liverpool take a ride in a yellow submarine and use music to aid Pepperland's besieged residents in their battle against the Blue Meanies.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
The animated classic -- now in a spectacular picture book!
Once upon a time (or maybe twice), some 80,000 leagues beneath the sea, there lay a colorful land of song and laughter called Pepperland, where Sergeant Pepper's Band was always playing your song -- until the Blue Meanies burst on the scene and chased all the music and magic away. So began the classic 1968 film Yellow Submarine, inspired by a song and hailed as an avant-garde amalgam of pop art, Beatles music, and highly innovative animation. Now that film's dazzling images -- and its lighthearted, witty tale -- is showcased in a glorious picture book sure to be savored by fans of all ages.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
This stiff likeness of the 1968 animated film recaps the original's flimsy script, surreal illustrations and iconic lyrics, earnestly insisting that "All you need is Love." Yet it lacks the kaleidoscopic mobility and sound that make Yellow Submarine such a groovy period piece, and it can't match the Peter Maxed-out psychedelia that let audiences overlook the plot's non-sequiturs. The uninitiated will puzzle at the offbeat story, in which the authoritarian Blue Meanies flash-freeze the music-loving people of Pepperland, and Yellow Submarine Captain Fred summons John, Paul, George and Ringo to save the day. The lads gamely brave a Sea of Monsters, a nasty blue Glove and a four-headed bulldog, making Beatlesque wisecracks while restoring music and peace. The banter, which once set up art director Heinz Edelmann's designs and established the Beatles' personalities, now just alludes to oldfangled technology and Sixties music; the sub's propellers turn "at a steady 33 1/3 rpm" (" `Do we need a ticket to ride?' asked George./ `Only if we're taking the mystery tour,' Ringo joked"). Fans will enjoy the musical references, but may be hard-pressed to glean much excitement from this picture-book package. For Beatles fanatics only. All ages. (Aug.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature - Leila Toledo
During the summer of 1968 I was passing a movie house in Greenwich Village on Eighth Street. Nineteen sixty-eight was along time ago so I'm not sure of the street but it was close to ninth street because that's the subway stop that I go off. Well, anyway, there was this big yellow submarine outside of the theater advertising the movie, Yellow Submarine. It was a smash hit. Everybody loved it. Mr. Gardner has adapted the story from the screenplay by Lee Minoff, Al Brodox, Jack Mendelsohn and Eric Segal. The bright, bold colorful illustrations capture Pepperland and mishmash of characters, Sergeant Pepper, the Blue Meanies and Captain Fred. Captain Fred, escapes from the Blue Meanies, who don't like the music of Sergeant Pepper's Band and sails to Liverpool in the Yellow Submarine and where he meets Ringo and corrals him and the rest of the Beatles into coming to Pepperland. Pepperland is saved when the Beatles serenade the Blue Meanies with "All You Need is Love." This is the first U.S. edition. 2004 (orig. 1968), Candlewick Press, Ages 7 to 10.
School Library Journal
Gr 1-5-In 1968, the movie Yellow Submarine broke new ground by combining popular songs with clever animation to tell a surrealistic story. This book combines an adaptation of the screenplay with artwork from the film. When Pepperland is threatened by the Blue Meanies and its inhabitants are turned into colorless statues, Captain Fred climbs into a yellow submarine and sets off to get help. After landing in Liverpool, he returns with the Beatles and together they journey underwater through the Sea of Monsters, are sucked into an inside-outside world, and survive the Sea of Holes. Eventually, they return to Pepperland to discover that the Fab Four fit into the uniforms of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. When they begin to sing, everything returns to normal and even the Blue Meanies are transformed into kinder, gentler beings. Trying to translate the ebullience of the movie into a book is a daunting challenge, one that doesn't quite succeed. The text has some of the wonderful puns from the movie, but somehow they fall flat here. Some references might be over the heads of many youngsters. The illustrations combine slightly blurry film cels with pop-art cartoons of the main characters. The color palette is off with some of the yellows turned greenish. Neither the words nor the music of the title song are included. Still, for children who are interested in animation and movies, this book does have a place.-Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CT Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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