“Frankie Liked to Sing” by John Seven. (Book Review)

Growing up, some kids blasted Alanis Morisette, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day and the Backstreet Boys. Not me. I blasted Sinatra at the loudest volume my cd player could play. Needless to say my own parents were thrilled by this! Growing up my grandfather Nate instilled a love for Ol’ Blue Eyes in me that runs deep to this day. I know much more than the average Joe… starting with all his early work with the Tommy Dorsey Band, beyond to his later years with The Rat Pack and any movie music in between. All the obscure songs, I know every word, every key change. When Sinatra died, my father took me down the road to Hoboken (we are just a few towns away) to visit his old home and pay respects and leave flowers. (I have to unearth those photos one day). Now with a daughter of my own, instead of any popular music or regular radio, Dolly and I listen to cds and, even better, records of the Chairman of the Board, and Siriusly Sinatra station when we go for long drives in the car. Dolly is starting to tinkle around on the piano and I will sing some of my favorite Sinatra tunes for her…”Luck Be a Lady”, “I Fall in Love Too Easily”, “Brooklyn Bridge” and “Fly Me to the Moon” to name a few!

“What should I play for you next, Frankie?”

So when I heard there was a book out called “Frankie Liked to Sing” I immediately knew who this book was about and knew I must have it! And let me tell you, this book did not disappoint! In fact, it is one of the best, most adorable, fun, well-told and illustrated books on Dolly’s bookshelf! The story is a kids-friendly biography about little Frankie Sinatra making his way in the world by exercising his amazing pipes and chasing his dreams to be the world’s greatest singer… mission accomplished! From his mother dressing him in stylish suits, to singing on the front stoop, at school and parties, while at work. His voice grew stronger and his dreams grew bigger and he worked so hard practicing that their wasn’t a person in Hoboken who didn’t know his name… or his unmistakable voice! The lines about how “the sound of his voice made everyone listening believe that Frankie understood exactly how they were feeling” rings true even to this day. “His voice could make a big tough guy cry. And could make a little guy feel big enough to ask a girl to dance.” He is beloved by so many people all over the world and the exceptional quality of his music, spanning from WWII to the 1990s, makes it easy to see why he has such a diverse set of fans. This book is a great introduction to Frank Sinatra for any generations who don’t know about the iconic “The Voice” yet, and will take any “Strangers in the Night” from “New York, New York” to “Chicago (is my kind of town)” and surely create a whole new set of fans. I love the suggested song list at the back and the Author’s Note delves a little deeper. The illustrations have a gorgeous sketch look to them, with bold colors, visual humor, great attention to detail and touches about growing up in NJ, all with a very dreamy quality about it! This book is the perfect pick to inspire your kids to dream big and pursue their dreams, working hard and having fun along the way! “Frankie Liked to Sing” is a loving tribute, endorsed and loved by Tina Sinatra, if you don’t want to take Dolly and my word for it!

“Sing it, Frankie!!”

Title: Frankie Liked to Sing
Author: John Seven
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Pages: 32