Gabba Gabba We Accept You: The Wondrous Tale of Joey Ramone

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. 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

Author: Jay Ruttenberg
Publisher: Drag City
Published: 09/26/2025
Pages: 51
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 11.20h x 8.60w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781937112424


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2025

About the Author
Jay Ruttenberg is the editor of the comedy journal " The Lowbrow Reader" and of the book The Lowbrow Reader Reader. He has written for the New Yorker, the New York Times, and other publications. He grew up in suburban Chicago and lives with his family in New York City. Lucinda Schreiber is an award-winning illustrator and animator. She has col laborated with a long list of clients, including MoMA, Saks Fifth Avenue, the BBC, NPR, and Vox. Born in South Africa and raised mostly in Australia, she currently resides in Brooklyn.