The Beatles

Just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’s first visit to the U.S., Manning and Granström present a chronological tour of the ascent of “those fresh-faced, cheeky lads from Liverpool.” Opening in 1940 with John Lennon’s schoolboy years, the book covers the group’s origins as the Quarrymen, their growing fame, personnel changes (“I’m sorry, Pete, you’re fired,” manager Brian Epstein tells drummer Pete Best), and the evolution of their music. Exuberant watercolor-and-pencil cartooning, concise narration, and sidebars offering anecdotes, song backgrounds, and historical context make this a well-rounded and engaging introduction to these music icons. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)