Frankie Liked to Sing

Young Frank Sinatra wasn’t like other kids in his Hoboken, N.J., neighborhood: his mother “liked to dress him up fancy” in suits, and he sang constantly—in class, on the street, and while working. Inspired by seeing Bing Crosby perform, Sinatra took voice lessons, then began singing on the radio and recording. Seven gives a punchy overview of Sinatra’s rise to fame (“His voice could make a big tough guy cry. And could make a little guy feel big enough to ask a girl to dance”), while Christy’s illustrations have a light, flowing rhythm, as though echoing Sinatra’s crooning. A substantial endnote supplies additional autobiographical information. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)