Opposites attract in this picture-book account of two Jewish boys from Queens who begin making music together as young teens. Jokester Paul and “math geek” Artie hit it off as cast members in the sixth-grade production of Alice in Wonderland. Both music lovers, Artie studies the way sounds work together to form harmonies; he takes the high notes while Paul takes the low, creating the sound that would make them famous. Although they enjoy early fame with a song that hits the Top 10 in New York before they even graduate high school, Paul and Artie part ways, pursuing separate interests for years before reuniting. Inspired by the political songs of Bob Dylan and social movements of the 1960s, they rebrand themselves as Simon and Garfunkel and record their showstopper: “The Sound of Silence.” For these long-time friends, the road to stardom is paved with persistence, good timing, and, above all, extraordinary talent. (Ages 8–11)