By Gary Golio, Little, Brown for Young Readers, $17.99, 32 pages

10“More and more, Bob felt like an outsider in his own home town. One night he just stood under a streetlight with his guitar, singing to the falling snow.”

When Bob Met Woody: The Story of the Young Bob Dylan tells about Bob Dylan’s early life, focusing on how he came to meet his hero, Woody Guthrie. This is a factual story, though as the author states, details vary in the memories of those involved, but when that happens they defer to Bob’s version, since it’s his life. This book is written in a manner that will allow both tweens and adults to understand it, hopefully introducing the younger set to the music of both Bob and Woody.

My own research into Bob’s early life concurs with what the author wrote, so it’s as factual as they could make it. My only wish is they’d done a longer book, one that details Bob’s life from there until the present. I’ll wager there are many interesting heretofore-untold stories to be had in that area. Maybe there’s a sequel in the works? The art is great, and the writing solid. This is a first class book for young and old, a true keeper. If you have any interest at all in folk music, history, or Dylan, get this book. It’s a bargain at any price for such quality.

Reviewed by David Broughton