Irving Berlin: The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing

Gr 2-5—In this picture book biography for older readers, Churnin describes the early life of Irving Berlin, a Russian immigrant who became famous for writing such songs as "White Christmas" and "God Bless America," the latter being a focal point of the story. From his arrival in New York City, through times of homelessness and singing on street corners, Berlin's life is retold with rich and descriptive language. Chernin includes interesting details such as Berlin drawing musical inspiration from the Shema Yisrael. Oddly, the subject is never explicitly described as Jewish. Words such as shtetl and cantor are used, but not defined, and no context is given for the family's departure of their homeland. Churnin includes a thorough author's note and time line, describing the remainder of Berlin's life, though includes no bibliography. Sanchez's lively, stylized illustrations fill each spread. The pages could easily be stills from a digitally animated movie. Berlin and his family have exaggerated features and appear caricaturelike, but this is done tastefully. Light and dark are well balanced, with pops of intense color—particularly Berlin's long red scarf that weaves through each page. Sanchez captures the immigrant experience visually, from the joyful faces seeing the New York cityscape for the first time to a young Berlin splashing in a washtub in a crowded tenement. VERDICT A thorough and engaging look at Berlin's early life featuring unique illustrations and a few minor flaws. Purchase for medium to large children's biography collections.—Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Irving Berlin and his family arrived in America as countless immigrant families did: in New York Harbor, with the Statue of Liberty serving as a welcoming beacon (" 'God bless America, ' Irving whispered"). Through vivid storytelling, Churnin describes young Irving's impressions of the unfamiliar city: "Walking home, the melodies in his head mixed with the crack of stickball games, the wail of the ragmen, and the creak of cartwheels on the cobblestones." After his father's death, Berlin earns money by writing and singing songs on the street, then at a restaurant; a fortuitous job at a song-writing company leads to his success. Yet Churnin recounts how fame doesn't diminish Berlin's gratitude for his life in America: he gave all of the proceeds for his hugely popular song "God Bless America" to the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Sanchez's handsomely stylized graphics offer visual depth that hints at the many stories unfolding within Berlin's New York City community; readers will recognize Berlin in the crowds by his long red scarf, which curls emotively throughout the pages. Ages 7-12. (May)

"The Jewish Experience in America

Below is a selection of books that appeared on the 'Love Your Neighbor' book lists as well as other new titles that will help children learn about the Jewish religion, culture, history, and contemporary Jewish life.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the song 'God Bless America, ' three new picture books about its composer, Irving Berlin, were published in 2018, each focusing on slightly different aspects of his story as a Jewish immigrant fleeing pogroms in Russia and the prejudices and challenges he faced in America. Churnin emphasizes the beginnings of Berlin's career while Kimmelman gives more attention to his family and his service in both world wars. Focusing on the creation of 'God Bless America' and its legacy, Nuchi's text is more concise and the most fun to read aloud. The illustrations all differ in style, palette, mood, and medium. All three books include extensive back matter."—School Library Journal