Come on, Sing It!

Starred review from August 8, 2016
Newcomer Danziger's folksy style and direct addresses to readers ("This story begins way back long before you were born") distinguish this highly approachable biography of folk singer and activist Pete Seeger (1919â2014). Though the book was not completed until after Seeger's death, Danziger received Seeger's blessing for and notes on this book, and his ardent, idealistic, humorous, and self-deprecating personality pervades the text. Danziger strikes an artful balance between maintaining a chronological narrativeâfrom a musical family, Seeger dropped out of Harvard and, by age 20, found his calling in the world of folk musicâand helping readers understand both the individual and the times he lived in. A chapter devoted to Seeger's signature instrument includes the history of the banjo and Seeger's instruction book on playing it; one focusing on the 1960s discusses approaches to songwriting, Seeger's use of music as an activist, and his modesty about his contributions. Seeger continued into his 90s to sing for children, world peace, fairness, and a cleaner environment. This volume pays admirable tribute to his impact. Photos and source notes are included. Ages 8â12.

August 1, 2016

Gr 3-6-When Danziger wrote a play about Pete Seeger with her third grade music students and invited the famed folksinger to attend, she never dreamed that it would result in the beginnings of a biography on Seeger written for kids. She tells his life story using simple, sometimes folksy language, peppered with black-and-white photographs. Chapters move from his childhood (he was raised by classical musician parents) to his career and rise to fame. Also covered are his family life, political activism, and subsequent blacklisting. He is portrayed as humble, musically inquisitive, and a man truly of the people. The compelling narrative will hold the interest of many readers. Danziger writes generally about activism but shies away from addressing Seeger's specific political beliefs-other than his involvement in the Hudson River cleanup. When discussing Seeger's work to share folk music with mainstream U.S. society, Danziger describes him as going on "search and rescue" missions to "unearth" songs and save them from "extinction," depicting Seeger as a savior and framing traditional folk musicians as existing only in the past. Seeger, on the other hand, states that people "should be listening to the kind of people I learned from." And while Seeger provided extensive feedback in the first years of the book's creation, Danziger supplements this firsthand knowledge with citations from Wikipedia for a few of the historic events mentioned within. VERDICT A secondary purchase for music biography collections.-Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA

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