Manatee woman turns classic Beatles tune into children’s book

A single apple, the story goes, fell on Sir Isaac Newton’s head and he conceived the idea of the Universal Law of Gravitation.

The inspiration that came to west Bradenton resident Sandy Miles was not nearly as earth-shattering and provocative, but she believes it, too, has a rightful, albeit small, place in the annals of mankind.

Miles, who works at the Manatee Chamber of Commerce in Lakewood Ranch as an administrative assistant, believes she could be the first person to come up with the idea of creating children’s books wholly comprised of lyrics from Beatles songs.

She thinks the idea is a good one because she envisions Baby Boomers breaking out into song as they read the book, which will make the children in their lives either smile, laugh, cover their ears, stare in amazement or sing along with glee.

When administered with enthusiasm, there may be some beneficial bridging of generation gaps, Miles adds.

Miles’ first Beatles effort, a slender, green, glossy paperback that came out this month, is titled “Birthday,” the song from the double album, “The Beatles,” also known as “The White Album.”

“I love it,” Marina Wolf-Schmidt, owner of Kiddie Academy in Lakewood Ranch, said of the book. “First, I love the fact that parents can share clean, nice music with children. But also, it’s a sharing of my generation and culture and history with a child in a far different way than anyone has ever imagined doing.”

The catchy lyrics of “Birthday” begin: “You say it’s your birthday/It’s my birthday too-yeah/They say it’s your birthday/We’re gonna have a good time.”

”It was very gratifying to be able to purchase a book that one of the Chamber employees worked so hard to produce,” said Bob Bartz, chamber president. “I can’t wait to give it to my granddaughter Juliana on her birthday.”

It took Miles two years to finish the project, which she illustrated herself, making up characters out of birthday party hats and favors.

She had to pay $1,000 to Sony/ATV Tunes LLC to acquire a license to use “Birthday” one time. She will have to repay the fee for the next song.

Her second book may be either “Octopus’s Garden” or “All You Need Is Love.”

Published by AuthorHouse, “Birthday” is available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and Borders. The book is selling for $8 on AuthorHouse, but can vary up to $11 at the other sites. It will soon be available at local bookstores and gift shops, Miles said.