Don McLean’s American Pie: A Fable

Age range 4-8

A long, long time ago…

…in a small town, there lived a lonely newspaper boy. So begins this heartfelt story inspired by one of the most iconic works of American rock-n-roll.

Don McLean’s American Pie: A Fable weaves elements and themes from the classic song with experiences from the singer-songwriter’s own early years into a stunningly visual and uplifting tale for all ages. This fable reveals the emotional journey of a newspaper delivery boy in the late 1950s who discovers the joy of friendship and music, eventually learning that when you recognize what truly makes you happy, you’re never really alone.

Released in 1971, ‘American Pie’ was named one of the top five songs of the century by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America and the original recording was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being ‘culturally, historically or artistically significant’.

Lushly illustrated and poetically written with numerous nods to the nostalgic themes and cryptic lyrics of the beloved song, Don McLean’s American Pie: A Fable is a picture book McLean says he hopes will become a bedtime standard for families.

Whether you read this as a prequel to the musical masterwork, or as a tale of growing up, or as a beautiful exploration of finding inspiration, Don McLean’s American Pie: A Fable will both enhance the song for fans of Don McLean and introduce a world of imagination to young readers who have not yet experienced this generation-defining music.