Gabba Gabba We Accept You by Jay Ruttenberg

Gabba Gabba We Accept You

The Wondrous Tale of Joey Ramone

Jay Ruttenberg

Drag City · Print & ebook · September 26, 2025

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Who it’s for
Joey Ramone’s story connects childhood struggles with the path to becoming the Ramones’ lead singer.
Themes
Bullying and feeling like a misfit, Belonging and self-acceptance, Punk rock and music history
Genres
Musicians' Lives for Kids, Rock Music, Performers' Biographies for Kids

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About this book

Gabba Gabba We Accept You is a children's picture book that tells the story of how a kid who was bullied and felt like a misfit grew up to become a hero to so many as lead singer of The Ramones. This story speaks to one of the greatest silent majorities in the world – all the kids who feel a little off. It contains an essential message that the world of punk rock has always meant to communicate.

Continue reading

All of us, regardless of our diverse and non-exclusive design, have something that we are meant to have and share, in a place that we can call our own. As children, these things may appear to many of us as problems and shortcomings. The challenging passages of life that brought Jeffrey Ross Hyman to the place where he became Joey Ramone provide a natural lesson to young folks navigating their way through the complexities of growing up. Working in collaboration with visual artist Lucinda Schreiber, Jay Ruttenberg guides the story of Gabba Gabba We Accept You in unexpected directions, with Lucinda’s lyrical illustrations and colorful design opening the sense of possibility in what feels like the path less traveled on every page. "A magnificently exuberant dive into music history." - Kirkus

Joey Ramone’s Path

Joey Ramone’s story connects childhood struggles with the path to becoming the Ramones’ lead singer.

Come here for

  • Joey Ramone’s path from bullied kid Jeffrey Ross Hyman to Ramones lead singer
  • A story about feeling like a misfit and finding a place to belong

Expect

  • A children’s picture-book story about bullying, growing up, and belonging
  • Lyrical illustrations and colorful design by Lucinda Schreiber

Where it sits

Musicians' Lives for Kids88%
Rock Music57%
Performers' Biographies for Kids40%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Kids Art
  • Rock Music
Authors
Jay Ruttenberg
Publisher
Drag City
Published
September 26, 2025
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Bullying and feeling like a misfit · Belonging and self-acceptance · Punk rock and music history
Reading lane
Kids Art