This Adorable Children’s Book Teaches Young Readers About Tony Bennett

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Tony Bennett: A Little Golden Book, the latest installment to the Golden Book series that aims to help little ones “dream big,” was released on July 18 and is currently a No. 1 bestseller on Amazon’s in the category of list for children and popular music.

The bestselling picture book shares the story of Bennett’s humble beginnings and music success. The native New Yorker grew up in a small apartment in Astoria, Queens, with his parents and two siblings.

Buy: Tony Bennett: A Little Golden Book Biography $5.99

“His grandparents had been poor farmers in southern Italy. Like many immigrants, Tony’s family came to America for a better life,” the book reads. “Tony and his older siblings, Mary and John, lived with their parents in a small apartment in Astoria, a neighborhood in the borough of Queens. For a long time, their only heat came from a coal-burning stove in the kitchen. Tony and John slept.”

Bennett went on to become a successful singer, but he also had a love for art. “Tony loved to paint and draw. His art teacher at school saw his talent and gave him extra lessons,” reads another passage from the book that goes on to note that Bennett was forced to drop out of high school. “Tony was accepted into a new high school for artists. Today it’s called the High School of Art and Design. But he wasn’t able to finish. To help his family, Tony had to leave school and get a job. He became a singing waiter.”

The legendary crooner, best known for classics like “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” died on Friday (July 21). Bennett, whose musical career spanned 70 years, sold more than 50 million records and won 20 Grammys. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.

This Little Golden Book series features dozens of children’s book on politicians, athletes, musicians and more including Willie Nelson: A Little Golden Book Biography, My Little Golden Book About Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography, Beyonce: A Little Golden Book Biography.