Imagine all the people living life in peace.
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will be as one.
Join one little pigeon as she sets out on a journey to spread a message of tolerance around the world. Featuring the lyrics of John Lennon’s iconic song and illustrations by the award-winning artist Jean Jullien, this poignant and timely picture book dares to imagine a world at peace. Imagine will be published in partnership with human rights organization Amnesty International.
"This book is about peace," goes the afterword, " which helps us enjoy a happy and safe life. For peace to flourish, we need to treat everyone kindly, equally and fairly."
In the age of Trump, North Korea, Australian cruelties to refugees, BREXIT and ISIS this book offers the simplest of please. It is, of course, John Lennon's immortal lyrics, written as part of his own peace movement. The illustrations are simple, too. Because they want to convey simple messages. Using the analogy of friendship between birds, Jean Lennon's pictures break away from racial stereo types and potential cultural barriers. As far as I know birds are not considered to be offensive in any language or culture. For each stanza, there is a new picture. Hugs, smiles and the image of a dove, or collection of doves holding an olive branch is universal.
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| Jean Jullien |
Illustrator Jean Jullien was born Cholet and lived in Nantes before moving to London in his twenties to study at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and the Royal College of Art. His work has appeared in publications including Télérama, Le Nouvel Observateur, The New York Times and The Guardian, and his clients have included the Pompidou Centre, Yale University and Nike.More importantly, he also was involved with Peace for Paris. In the wake of the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, Jullien created a variation of a classic peace symbol invoking the Eiffel Tower. The image swiftly went viral via social media and news coverage of worldwide sympathies and affirmations of solidarity against terrorism.
He has illustrated several books for children, including Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor, and is the creator of This Is Not a Book, named a Best Picture Book of 2016 by Publishers Weekly. Visit him online at jeanjullien.com.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-produced the original song and album of the same name with Phil Spector. Recording began at Lennon's home studio at Tittenhurst Park, England, in May 1971, with final overdubs taking place at the Record Plant, in New York City, during July.
One month after the September release of the LP, Lennon released "Imagine" as a single in the United States; the song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and the LP reached number one on the UK chart in November, later becoming the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed album of Lennon's solo career. Although not originally released as a single in the United Kingdom, it was released in 1975 to promote a compilation LP and it reached number six in the chart that year.
The song has since sold more than 1.6 million copies in the UK; it reached number one following Lennon's murder in December 1980. In 1985, the Central Park Conservancy memorialised a portion of the park in honour of Lennon, called Strawberry Fields, with a mosaic that reads "Imagine".
Shortly before his death, Lennon acknowledged Ono's role in inspiring the concept behind "Imagine"; as of June 2017, plans were underway to ensure that she receives a co-writing credit for the song. in this book, Ono gives us a short introduction. "Imagine. Together we can make peace happen. Then the world truly will live as one."
BMI named "Imagine" one of the 100 most-performed songs of the 20th century. The song ranked number 30 on the Recording Industry Association of America's list of the 365 Songs of the Century bearing the most historical significance.
It earned a Grammy Hall of Fame Award and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. A UK survey conducted by the Guinness World Records British Hit Singles Book named it the second best single of all time, while Rolling Stone ranked it number three in their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Since 2005, event organisers have played it just before the New Year's Times Square Ball drops in New York City.
Dozens of artists have performed or recorded versions of "Imagine", including Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Joan Baez, Elton John and Diana Ross. Emeli Sandé recorded a cover for the BBC to use during the end credits montage at the close of the 2012 Summer Olympics coverage in August 2012. "Imagine" subsequently re-entered the UK Top 40, reaching number 18.
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