Book Description

"A voice like yours," celebrated conductor Arturo Toscanini told contralto Marian Anderson, "is heard once in a hundred years." This insightful account of the great African American vocalist considers her life and musical career in the context of the history of civil rights in this country. Drawing on Anderson's own writings and other contemporary accounts, Russell Freedman shows readers a singer pursuing her art despite the social constraints that limited the careers of black performers in the 1920s and 1930s. Though not a crusader or a spokesperson by nature, Marian Anderson came to stand for all black artists-and for all Americans of color-when, with the help of such prominent figures as Eleanor Roosevelt, she gave her landmark 1939 performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, which signaled the end of segregation in the arts. Carefully researched, expertly told, and profusely illustrated with contemporary photographs, here is a moving account of the life of a talented and determined artist who left her mark on musical and social history. Through her story, one of today's leading authors of nonfiction for young readers illuminates the social and political climate of the day and an important chapter in American history.Notes, bibliography, discography, index. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

A Believe It Or Not book for the musically inclined
Most eccentrics do not become famous and most talented souls remain undiscovered. In "Lives of the Musicians", however, eccentrics with talent not only were discovered, but lauded long past their own lifetimes. Author Kathleen Krull has partnered with illustrator Kathryn Hewitt to create the world's first interesting children's collection of biographical information concerning some of the best composers ever to breathe.

The book spans the field of music from Verdi to Woody Guthrie. Each entry (there are sixteen in total) contains one picture and one description of the artist's life. These descriptions, as described by the author herself, "are offered now as a way of getting closer to the musicians - and the music". Every quirk and interesting tidbit is laid before the reader in the most wonderfully entrancing ways. Did you know that Bach once got into a knife fight in the streets? Or that Sir William Gilbert owned a bee named Buzfuz? It might be interesting to collect such fun but otherwise meaningless tidbits about composers' sometimes sordid lives, but Krull goes a step further. Facts included in each life explore the necessary details of their birth and death dates, how they were introduced to music, their lives, etc. Each section is also followed by information about their best-known works. What I liked about this book, however, was that the author did not choose to linger over their individual creations. A kid reading this book is not going to want to hear a long drawn out account of exactly why Chopin chose to write his Funeral March the way he did. You can find this information in a standard biography of Chopin's works. No, this is a book gives children the chance to acknowledge that all those hoity-toity names they've been forced to digest in elementary school music classes actually had interesting and sometimes wacky lives. Plus, the author is kind enough to include a section of musical terms, an index of composers, and a list meant, "For Further Reading ... And Listening", for those kids who wish to know more about these fascinating heroes of music.

Krull's method of writing is particularly adept when conveying irony. In her section devoted to Erik Satie (a perfect choice for this book, if ever there was one) she describes the composer's reaction to his own poverty.

"He once remarked, 'It's odd. You find people in every bar willing to offer you a drink. No one ever dreams of presenting you with a sandwich'".

The next line then states off-handedly, "He died of cirrhosis of the liver at age fifty-nine". Kids may not get the joke, but I for one whole-heartedly approve of the author's choice to mention that fact after such a statement.

Because the book only contains sixteen composers, you can't help but wonder what the author's method of selection was. These composers certainly define the canon of Western music, with two women, an African-American, and a man of Jewish decent serving to bring a little diversity to the list. But why include Charles Ives and not Claude Debussy? Why Stravinsky and not Wagner? The only reasons I can find for some choices would be because some composers lived far more interesting lives than others. Certainly the range of oddities Krull has collected is fascinating.

This book is probably best for slightly older children. Krull is an honest biographer and does not skirt around the fact that Chopin and George Sand never married, or that Tchaikovsky was undoubtedly a homosexual. She does not fudge facts to make them more interesting or record hearsay and rumor (though she is prone to mentioning "legends", like that concerning Beethoven's death). All in all, you will not find a better or more entrancing way of introducing kids to the classical composers. And for those of you that wouldn't be able to tell Prokofiev from Stravinsky if you bumped into him in the street, let me recommend that you take a gander at this puppy as well. It's a heck of a lot of fun, and a hoot to boot.

I Loved This Book.....
I loved this book because it made those musicians seem like real people instead of great-all-star-super-geniuses. It is full of strange little facts about all the famous musicians like Bach,Gershwin,Beethoven and Schmann.

---Megan W.

Lives of the Musicians
This book provides interesting insight into the lives of composers. I teach music to elementary and high school students and I read this book to all of my students. They all enjoy learning the details of the composers lives. The book presents the composers in such a way that the students remember the information about the composers. The book does not provide information about what the composers' music sounds like, and that is something I also like to teach. A great book to gain kids'interest in famous composers.

Lives of the Musicians--Good Times, Bad Times, and What the
I first read lives of the musicians when I was about 7 yearsold or so. Then, I thought it was terrific. I still do. However, I amnow 12 years old, and now that I have paid more attention to it, I see several faults, but overall it is still a very good book. First of all, their choice of musicians is not the best. I would have recommended Debussy and Schubert, like the Kirkus Reviewer. Some of the composers I have hardly ever heard of, like Igor Stravinsky or Nadia Boulanger. And while Clara Schumann was a great pianist, I think they should have focused more on her husband, Robert, a prolific composer, whose works are among the very best. Also, some of the parts of the biographies are questionable. Frederic Chopin may not have actually been romantically involved with Aurore Dudevant (George Sand), but in love with the Countess Delphine Potocka. The book states that the Waltz in D-Flat, or Minute Waltz, was written for George Sand's dog, when in fact it was probably written for Potocka. However, the book was still very well written, and I enjoyed it, despite the possible mistakes. I recommend this book to anyone who likes music, classical or not. So sit back and enjoy!

Lives of the Musicians-Good Times, Bad Times, and What the N
My granddaughter, age 9, said this: "I enjoyed this book so much that I checked it out of my school library 5 times. I am in ballet, and Tchaikovsky wrote our recital music. We are doing "Sleeping Beauty". I enjoyed reading about his life. Then I got to read about the other ones, too, and found them very interesting. I thought that Kathleen Krull described their lives as if each composer was telling about himself/herself. The illustrations told me alot about what their personalities were like. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys music." ... Read more

Book Description

Eleven-year-old Stevland Judkins Morris Hardaway hit the big time when he signed a Motown recording contract. At the age of thirteen, Little Stevie Wonder had millions of fans dancing to the number-one song in the nation.

Little Stevie Wonder is the true story of a boy who lost his sight shortly after birth, grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and became one of the twentieth century"s most creative and influential musicians—an instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, musical innovator, and cultural activist.

Here in Quincy Troupe"s joyful poem and Lisa Cohen"s vibrant art is an uplifting celebration of life, peace, and music. ... Read more

Book Description

John Lennon's influence on music and culture is legendary. He was a rebel, a genius, an innovator, and a peace activist. From a young age he dreamed of fame and fortune. When he achieved it as one of the Beatles, he recognized the need for a deeper meaning in life. His inner search for happiness shaped his life and brought new dimension to the world of rock 'n' roll. As a follow-up to their award-winning title, Martin's Big Words, Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier present John Lennon's life through a combination of narrative and song lyrics, cut-paper collage and watercolor art-capturing the energy and the essence of a man whose vision and creative genius continue to inspire people today. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Ella enchanted
You open this book and the endpapers swirl and glow like black painted silk. They're the first indication you receive that this book is something special. Something different. Something apart from the rest. Using the narrating character of one Scat Cat Monroe, an actual well-dressed feline, the story follows Ella from child to lady of the stage. As we watch, Ella moves to Harlem thinking she's gonna make it big through dancing. Once there, however, she switches her focus and unleashes her fabulous voice. She pairs up with the Chick Webb Orchestra and Al Feldman. She then bebops with Dizzy Gillespie and earns herself the name "The Queen of Scat". It's a fabulous upbeat tale that takes the spirit of Ella Fitzgerald and lets her shine. The best possible tribute to her name.

The text of the story is especially amusing. Sometimes a book will attempt to speak in a jiving slangy sort of way and simply come off as annoying. Other times, the author sounds as if he/she is trying too hard. Fortunately, Andrea Davis Pinkney has everything under control so that when the book says something like, "She won the contest straight up, kicked her dance dreams to the curb, and pinned all her hopes on being a singer", you know it's true. There's a poetry to this book's speech that never crosses the line from authentic to agonizing. Instead, it's got a rhythm all its own.

Accompanying Andrea's text are Brian Pinkney's illustrations. At first I was a little put off by the amount of magical realism evident in its pages. Then I read Brian's inspirations (William H. Johnson, Aaron Douglas, the Art Deco movement, etc.) and it all made sense. And there's no arguing that the pictures here are fan-freakin'-tastic. Brian Pinkey has used scratchboard to make these images as bright and free flowing as they are. The result looks like nothing so much as woodcuts on acid. There's breath and movement to these pictures, and Ella herself has been granted the power of appearing larger than life.

If I've any objections to this book, maybe it comes with the choice of creating Scat Cat Monroe. Do we really need an anthropomorphic cat to lure children into this story? But it's a small complaint. Andrea Pinkney is kind enough to supply a biography, bibliography, videography, and selected discography at the end of the book for future reference. Always a nice touch. The Pinkney duo have truly created one of the best picture books encompassing the jazz, scat, and bebop movements of the past. This is the book to read.

A great story to share with young people
Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale Of A Vocal Viruosa by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Scat Cat Monroe is the amazing true-life picture book story of the First Lady of Song, also known as the Queen of Scat, Ella Fitzgerald. This amazingly gifted African-American singer, and her illustrious achievements are presented with free-wheeling, full-color illustrations by Brian Pinkney and a jivin' prose. A great story to share with young people about the joy of music and reaching for one's dreams, this Weston Woods school library packaging edition is enhanced with the inclusion of a CD of the story with page-turn signals.

the first lady of song
The Pinkney couple's biography on Ella Fitzgerald is a delightful read for young children who want to learn more about the talented jazz artist. The use of narrator Scat Cat Monroe as a device to engage children is successful especially due to his use of language. The rhymes and rhythms the authors adopt to tell the story echo the snazziness of the music at the time. Young readers will thoroughly enjoy getting to know more about the artist Fitzgerald through this story.

I love Ella
I found a children's book about her, even better. It was a great book to jive with. Beautiful pictures, and a nice history lesson on this wonderful woman!

A Tribute to the First Lady of Song.....
"You may think I look like any other cat. But baby, I'm in a class all by myself. Scat Cat's my name. Scat Cat Monroe. A name I've earned. Got my name from knowin' Ella. Ella Fitzgerald. The Queen of Scat. What's scat? you ask. Scat's the sound that don't hold back. Ella's sound-that was scat. Singing so supreme. Music's velvet-ribbon dream..." Narrated by this cool, zoot suited feline, Scat Cat Monroe introduces the incomparable, Ella Fitzgerald, to a whole new generation of fans. From her humble beginnings in Yonkers, New York, to her contest winning debut at Harlem's Apollo Theater at seventeen, to her meteoric rise, singing with the big bands and jazz artists of the 1930s and '40s, Scat Cat was there, stompin' at the Savoy with the Chick Webb Orchestra and jammin' to cloud nine and back with Dizzy Gillespie. "Now, when Ella performed, she let her lyrics go. She took her singing out to play." Andrea Davis Pinkney's engaging, lyrical text swings with imagery, magic, and rhythm. Brian Pinkney's bold, bright, and inventive illustrations dazzle, as they swirl around the pages to the music of the words. Together, word and art create an inspiring and captivating introductory biography starring the First Lady of Song. With an Author's Note at the end to complete the story, Ella Fitzgerald is an energetic, fun-filled tribute, that's perfect for music lovers 8-12, and also works well as a read-aloud for younger children. ... Read more

Book Description

Born in Austria in 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed his first piece of music, a minuet, when he was just five years old! Soon after, he was performing for kings and emperors. Although he died at the young age of thirty-five, Mozart left a legacy of more than 600 works. This fascinating biography charts the musician's extraordinary career and personal life while painting a vivid cultural history of eighteenth-century Europe. Black-and-white illustrations on every spread explore such topics as the history of opera and the evolution of musical instruments. There is also a timeline and a bibliography.

Illustrated by Carrie Robbins.
Cover illustration by Nancy Harrison. ... Read more

Book Description

Clay Aiken's life story is one that most people not born into privilege can identify with. The self-proclaimed geek took a one in a million shot at music stardom by qualifying for and then nearly winning the American Idol contest. In losing the contest, however, he won America's heart. Now, with hit records under his belt, the North Carolina native has a smile, a wit, and a voice that is being recognized everywhere.

Go behind the scenes of one of America's most popular television shows and learn what Clay had to go through to achieve success. Learn about his rough childhood and how his love of singing rose to the top at just the right time. Learn about how he deals with his newfound fame and what he thinks of his fans. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

We want Clay in the Movies, Not just books!
Just ordered this book and can't wait to get it while I'm waiting for Clay's new book to come out! If you haven't read The Claymate Handbook, you need to get that, too! It is hilarious! I just read a book called Gifted and thanked Kirk Martin (...)for donating $2 to Clay's Foundation, and he emailed me back. It is an amazing story, and I think Clay should star in the movie version of Gifted as Devan McAllister--can you imagine seeing Clay on a big, wide screen? Clay the movie star!! We love you, Clay!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

It would seem a riddle worthy of the sphinx: how do you give children a sense of jazz music without playing a note? Chris Raschka answers loudly and clearly with the illustrated, syncopated Charlie Parker Played Be Bop. This sparse, rhythmic, repetitive text (inspired by a recording of Parker's "A Night in Tunisia") embraces and reflects the sound and feel of jazz when read aloud: "Charlie Parker played be bop. / Charlie Parker played saxophone. / The music sounded like be bop. / Never leave your cat alone." Whether in complete phrases or in nonsense refrains that taste like music in your mouth ("Alphabet alphabet, alphabet, alph, / Chickadee, chickadee, chickadee, chick, / Overshoes, overshoes, overshoes, o, / Reeti-footi, reeti-footi, reeti-footi, ree."), Raschka brings melody to the page, and rhythm to eager ears.

Raschka, whose Yo! Yes?won a Caldecott Honor, and whose MysteriousThelonious--another ebullient, musical exploration of a jazz legend--was named a 1997 ALA Notable Book, proves once again that he is just as at home with a paintbrush as he is with a pen. His bold, quirky illustrations add movement and light to the words, buoying their already lyrical effect. Charlie Parker Played Be Bop is a colorful, whimsical romp through the world of jazz, sure to set young and old toes a-tapping. (Ages 4 to 8)--Brangien Davis ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Makes me want to dance!
I have read this book over and over and over. I regularly buy it for neices and nephews and make sure each has their own copy. I have read it to my 4th graders for the past few years and they love it. It is a great read-aloud. The words flow. The book is hipnotic. Charlie Parker needs to be introduced to children and this is a great way to go about it.

My 6 year old neice can quote each page! She's been able to do that since she was 3 or 4! Her little brother now has a copy! Chris Raschka has done a great job with this book. Oh, and, never leave your cat a-lone.....

My 13-month old is OBSESSED with this book.
I purchased this book because I love Charlie Parker and wanted to share that love with my then 6-month-old son (he's been listening to Charlie Parker on Phil Schaap's Birdflight since he came home from the hospital).

It immediately became his favorite book (he has over 100) and INSISTS that it be read to him 4-5 times per day. Frequently, we will have just finished it and he reaches for it again. One of his first 7 words is pa-ka (Parker)...it is his first two-syllable word! I would teach him to say "Bird," but I think that would confuse him right now. :-)

The pictures are wonderful! I particularly like the one of "Charlie Parker Played No Trombone" which shows Bird looking at a trombone and scratching his head.

The words and sounds are wonderful and convey the feeling and flavor of "Be Bop."

My son particularly loves the mysterious kitty...

My son is now 13 months old and it's still his favorite book BY FAR!

"Never leave your cat a-lone..."

Letters and Sounds
My daughter is nearly three years old. She is just now learning her alphabet and the sounds of the letters. As we read Charlie Parker Played Be Bop, she points to each word. I feel it is a great asset in her learning. In addition, I have noticed that she plays with sound more, sings more, and yes... I've even seen her dancing to her own songs. Maybe it is simply an age thing, but I would give some credit to this wonderful book. It demonstrates the power of sound beyond the meaning of words. We find ourselves learning that skill unaware that it is being taught.

My musical 2 year old loves it!
I saw this book on "Between the Lions" and I loved it, so I bought it. I figured my daughter (then about 18 months) wouldn't have any interest, but I'd keep it until she got older. Boy, was I wrong. She loves it. She loves looking at it by herself and she loves us to read it to her. I'm not a major jazz fan, but the book is impossible to read without feeling the rhythm. The illustrations are fun and the cat looks just like ours!

First book my son read and read and read...
Picked this book up at the Library after it was featured on PBS's Between The Lions. My son never put the book down, so we bought it. The book is fun, easy to read for children, and the pictures are great. Both my boys have it memorized and read it often. ... Read more

Book Description

Opera’s colorful history is rich with exciting stories. Through conversational text, informative sidebars, and full-color photographs, young readers will learn about the talented people--composers, singers, musicians, stagehands, set and costume designers, makeup crews--and the technical wizardry that go into staging opera’s lavish performances. There are even behind-the-scenes glimpses of many of today’s great opera companies, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the San Diego Opera. Created in association with London’s Royal Opera House and the San Diego Opera, this book-and-CD package is a sumptuous introduction to the world of opera. The accompanying CD captures memorable moments from some of the most famous operas. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As this skilled duo did with Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, Pam Muñoz Ryan and Brian Selznick bring to life the story of yet another remarkable American woman, gifted black contralto Marian Anderson.

Undoubtedly one of America's greatest singers, Anderson was hardly known in her own country because of her race--music schools ignored her applications ("We don't take colored!") and even after she began singing professionally, many venues only featured white performers. Ryan's well-paced story becomes especially poignant as she recounts Anderson's overwhelming success in Europe ("one newspaper in Sweden called it 'Marian Fever' ... In Austria, the world-famous conductor Arturo Toscanini announced that what he had heard, one was privileged to hear only once in a hundred years"). The book reaches its climax with a wordless, deep brown two-page spread from Selznick, a crowd's-eye view of Anderson singing at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, an historic concert that drew an integrated audience of over 75,000.

Ryan's simple, metered text (punctuated frequently by lyrics) captures the quiet drama of Anderson's story, and kids will especially identify with the confusion and frustration of young Marian. And as with the pair's previous collaboration, Selznick's rich illustrations ably convey the undeniable strength and courage of a talented, determined woman. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Singing for the Soul
A little black girl named Marian Anderson loved to sing . She would sing to her baby doll everyday. Every Sunday she would go to church and sing with her sister. She and her family were very proud. She grew into her teens and still loved to sing. People say when Marian sang she would sing with her eyes closed ,as finding the music within. As marian sang her heart filled with tragedy and sometimes her songs.
Marian was a full grown adult and Marians parents past away She was sad but still sang.

She went to a music school and she patiently in line for an application. The girl behind the counter helped everyone else but Marian. The lady didn't let her have an application because she was colored. She grew older and married a fine man who respected her singing. She went to a master singer and he loved her singing so she sang and sang till the end of her days.

The Best Book
This book is undoubtedly one of the best books that I have ever read for my class. It teaches people, both young and old, a little piece of our American history including the Great Depression and segregation. With it, the tandum of Ryan and Selznick provide a general overview of history realia. Overall, this piece is a great resources to read for all people.

One of my favorites for my own classroom!
When this book first came out, I was ecstatic that someone took the time to make the life of Marian Anderson accessible to children. Too often classical singers of the Civil Rights era are overlooked and forgotten. The combination of the gorgeous illustrations and lovely text make this book exceptional. Although not the easiest book for children to read on their own, as a read-aloud in a classroom setting, it can make an incredible impact. It is an excellent book to incite discussion on many subjects and it truly inspires children to pursue their dreams despite the troubles they may face.
The timeless lyrics interwoven within the story comment wonderfully on Marian's life and the perseverance with which she dealt with her struggles. The beauty of this book is that it focuses on the accomplishments of her life and the overcoming of disappointments, not the actual disappointments themselves. This lack of sensationalism gives the book dignity. This is definitely one book that I will treasure and hope to share many times over with students in my own classroom.

Singing for the Soul
WHEN MARIAN SANG beautifully depicts the life of Marian Anderson, a wonderful singer who broke racial barriers to become one of the most world-renowned performers. The story tells of her humble upbringing in Philadelphia and the support she garnered from her family, her church, and her community. It also tells of the discrimination that Marian faced when trying to learn music and later when she attempted to perform. Yet, Marian persevered. She went to Europe where she received so much attention and acclaim that it was said the people suffered from "Marian Fever." She later returned to the United States, and fought prejudices and discrimination by performing at the Lincoln Memorial. She was finally able to break down racial barriers and perform at the Metropolitan Opera. At last, Marian felt free to sing.

WHEN MARIAN SANG is an inspirational and educational biography of a great performer. The book gives details in a poignant, yet simplistic way that people of all ages will be able to appreciate. The illustrations are truly breathtaking. I enjoyed the fact that verses of songs that Marian sang were intertwined within the text to add depth to the story. I was also impressed with the detailed information about Marian's life and the fact that her discography was included in the back of the book. Pam Munoz Ryan and Brian Selznick have done an excellent job in telling the story of Marian Anderson. I look forward to future works from this dynamic duo...

Good drawings, very poor text
While the artwork illustrating this book is beautiful, the text is sorely lacking, being at the same time both too complex and too narrow, besides being confined by the device of using song lyrics to illustrate Anderson's life and feelings.
The text is overly long, and some concepts in the book are more complicated than needed, such as specifying that "the Department of Interior of the United States invited Marian" and "teachers ... marched ... in front of the Board of Education" to an age group which is grappling with the concept that our country is the United States of America. The report of the actual concert at the Memorial is short. There's no discussion of how the concert, the controversy surrounding it, and Anderson herself may have influenced the country's views on civil rights. The author uses the word "Negro" to refer to Anderson's race; that term was appropriate in 1939, but not now.
The afterword by the illustrator is just silly, since he spends much of his time telling us how his uncle knew both Eleanor Roosevelt and Marian Anderson, until he gets to the end of his afterword and says, paraphrased, "just kidding -- my uncle made it up!" The illustrator continues this joke at our expense by making his absent, lying uncle a primary character in the drawing of the audience at the Lincoln Memorial.
The afterword ("Encore") by the author is helpful, as are the suggestions for further reading and viewing.
The theme of Ryan's book is that Anderson fulfills her girlhood dream of singing at the Met, and is the first African American to do so. Everything else is essentially an incident along that road. There's more to Anderson's life than that.
The main flaw of this book is that the text uses too-complex terms to convey a story which is paradoxically too simple. It leaves out important parts of Anderson's life, such as her first "flopped" concert in New York, and her life after the Met. There are other books which provide more reality, and/or a more child-oriented text (such as Patricia and Fredrick McKissack's _Marian Anderson: A Great Singer_). Click on "see more about me" above for a review of and link to McKissack's book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, "King of the Keys," was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C. "He was a smooth-talkin', slick-steppin', piano-playin' kid," writes master wordsmith Andrea Pinkney in the rhythmic, fluid, swinging prose of this excellent biography for early readers. It was ragtime music that first "set Duke's fingers to wiggling." He got back to work and taught himself to "press on the pearlies." Soon 19-year-old Duke was playing compositions "smoother than a hairdo sleeked with pomade" at parties, pool halls, country clubs, and cabarets. Skipping from D.C. to 1920s Harlem, "the place where jazz music ruled," Duke and his small band called the Washingtonians began performing in New York City clubs, including the Cotton Club, where Duke Ellington and his Orchestra was officially born. By 1943, Duke Ellington--writer of more than 1000 compositions, including ballet and film scores, orchestral suites, musicals, and choral works--had made it all the way to Carnegie Hall.

We applaud this talented husband-and-wife team--award-winning illustrator Brian Pinkney and writer Andrea Pinkney--for making music fly in this fantastic tribute to a jazz legend. Andrea does an extraordinary job of translating music into words, with blues "deeper than the deep blue sea" and "hot-buttered bob, with lots of sassy-cool tones," while her husband visually interprets the movement of music as spirals, waves, and swirls of color, prepared as scratchboard renderings with luma dyes, gouache, and oil paint. Andrea writes, "Toby let loose on his sleek brass sax, curling his notes like a kite tail in the wind. A musical loop-de-loop, with a serious twist," while Brian paints those curling notes, the loop-de-loops, and the kite sailing up to the New York City skyline. Young readers will enjoy the rhythm and beauty of the story itself, and may even be inspired to give Raffi a rest and swing with the Duke! (Great read-aloud, ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson, Amazon.com Kids editor ... Read more

Reviews (9)

An outstanding picture book biography!
This beautiful picture book biography recounts the life and career of jazz musician, Edward Kennedy Ellington -- better known to all as the Duke.

When the Duke's parents enrolled him in piano lessons for the very first time, he flat out did not want to go. At that time he had visions of playing baseball; but his parents insisted that he learn to play the piano. The music lessons were slow and not a lot of fun. It wasn't long before he quit taking lessons altogether and kissed the piano goodbye. Little did he know then that the melodious rhythms of Ragtime would draw him back to this instrument again and lead to his success as a great musician, composer, and orchestra leader!

Andrea Davis Pinkney does an outstanding job sharing the Duke's story with young readers. Her husband, Brian Pinkney, matches her wonderful text with vibrate illustrations, which translate the Duke's music into a series of bold colored spirals, waves, curls, and swirls that literally leap off of the pages of the book! Without a doubt, this husband and wife collaboration will guide readers in appreciating the rhythm and beat of the Duke's life and music. This book is truly a musician's delight!

This thing's got that swing!
I just finished reading the Pinkney's "Duke Ellington" to a first grade class in our predominantly white rural school northeast of Seattle. Being trained as a musician, but now working as a librarian, I loved the way this text really swings. When I noticed much of the slang was going over the heads of the children, I'd ask them if they knew what certain words meant. Interestingly, the one African-American girl in the class was hip to most of the jive.

Sure some of the terminology went right past these kids, but they got into the groove, which is carried along soulfully by the vibrant illustrations. Like another reviewer here, when I was done reading this to the kids, I wanted to hear "Take the 'A' Train." Fortunately I had a CD of "Duke Ellington's 16 Most Requested Songs" sitting in my library, so I popped it in, and these kids were a-hoppin' and a-boppin'.

I think next time, I'll play the CD first. Hopefully, I'll be able to settle 'em down afterwards to hear this jazzy biography.

A beautiful tribute to Duke Ellington
"Duke Ellington" is a biography of the legendary composer. The book is directed towards younger readers. Andrea Davis Pinkney's text is well complemented by the rich, colorful illustrations by her husband and collaborator, Brian Pinkney.

The book begins with Ellington's childhood, and describes his early interest in music and the beginning of his career. The Pinkneys portray his triumph at the Cotton Club, his musical partnership with Billy Strayhorn, and other aspects of his life and career. The book concludes with the triumphant premiere of Ellington's great composition "Black, Brown, and Beige" at Carnegie Hall in New York.

One of the aspects of the book that I like best is Andrea Pinkney's use of hip slang that recalls the era being portrayed. Example: "Yeah, those solos were kickin'. Hot-buttered bop, with lots of sassy-cool tones." And Brian Pinkney's illustrations combine vibrant color with an appealing "antiqued" look. Overall, an excellent educational book for young readers.

The best juvenile biography I've ever read!
I teach 3rd grade at a very "white" private school. My students absolutely LOVED this story, asked questions galore when it was done, oooo'd and ahhh'd over the amazing illustrations. The wonderful story and the artwork practically made it possible to hear the music.

At the same time, I wouldn't hesitate to read this story to older students, even in the upper grades. The book provides in-depth biographical information--there is nothing babyish about it.

first-rate
This is a wonderful, fabulously fun book for young readers! Another very poignant book I recently picked up (was just published last fall, I think), though for adults, would also be terrific for young adults,or those new to Ellington and that is Duke Ellington: A Spritual Biography by a Ms. Janna Tull Steed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The story of America's Pied Piper of Classical Music
The cover cartoon of Mike Venezia's look at Leonard Bernstein for the Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers has the subject playing the piano, composing, conducting, writing a book, and putting on a TV series for kids. That last one is how most of my generation probably first encountered Bernstein, whose "Young People's Concerts" did more to promote classical music in this country than anything else in our lifetime. Eventually, once Bernstein explained to us what was happening in a Beethoven symphony we learned that this man could not only teach us about great music he could also write some as well. Eventually, if our lessons in music appreciation continued, we would understand why he was also a dynamic conductor.

Of course Venezia provides an entertaining biography of Bernstein, which combines basic biographical information with career highlights and a half-dozen entertaining cartoons. Venezia also names some of Bernstein's greatest compositions, such as the scores for "West Side Story" and "Candide," and urges his young readers to seek out this music as well as the videos of Bernstein's lecture-concerts for young people that are still available on videotape. Reading about Bernstein or any other composer without being exposed to the music is just flat out wrong. There are several excellent "hits" collections of Bernstein's work as well as Broadway cast albums and film soundtracks that can bring his music alive for young students. I have also believed for a long time that nobody did a better job of conducting Beethoven's symphonies than Bernstein. Other volumes in the Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers series look at the likes of not only Mozart and Tchaikovsky, but also Gershwin and the Beatles. However, this is the best volume I have read in this series to date. ... Read more

Book Description

Bartolomeo Cristofori, an Italian harpsichord maker, invented a special music machine more than 300 years ago. And the piano still speaks to us today. This fun and noisy story is about that discovery and its secret power. Written with historical accuracy in an imaginative style, the book's large colorful figures will appeal to children ages 4-10. The final pages include diagrams that older children will find interesting. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Music Box
I love this book! It is so much fun to read aloud and kids love it. I've been fortunate enough to hear the author and illustrator read this book to kids and they were mezmarized. The language is as musical as its subject and the illustrations are true to the times and bring Bartolomeo to life. Kudos to Suzanne Guy and Donna Lacey.

Educational and entertaining!
"The Music Box - The Story of Cristofori" is a unique educational story about the invention of the piano. In a wonderful and clear fashion, children (and adults) learn about music before the piano existed and discover the mechanical-musical genius of Cristofori's invention. Additional pages at the end of the book give more specific information about the piano and the inventor. Recommended for all children to encourage exploration. Also suggested for elementary classes and all music teachers...Dr. Kathleen Kain, scientist and educator.

STORY OF CHRISTOFORI/PIANO
I love this book. Any young person studing music should read this book. It not only familiarizes kids(not to mention adults) with the story of the most important person in the history of the piano, but it has a section that teaches about the piano and how it works. Ive read it a bunch of times and look back on it regularly. Parents dont always think their kid taking piano lessons needs music books like they need school books, but they do. This book goes well in a young persons bedtime reading library. ... Read more

Book Description

A complete drum method containing the elementary principles of music and an introduction to bass drum and cymbals. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent intro. to reading rhythms
I've taught percussion now for about 15 years, and this book teaches all the important rhythmic concepts within about 11 pages. It will definitely give a beginning student a sense of accomplishment, and will keep them interested, which is the most important thing! It also has a list of all 26 major rudiments and has plenty of useful exercises.

A great beginning method book!
I teach percussion privately, and I require all my beginning students to buy a copy of this book. It introduces the new percussionists to time signatures, rudiments, sticking methods, and playing auxiliary percussion instruments. It is a simple yet effective way to get started in percussion, and is a lot more interesting to play than _Stick Control_! ... Read more

Book Description

Antonin Dvorak's New World Symphony is one of the most popular classical works ever. In this spirited account of the story behind the composition, Joseph Horowitz brings to life the diverse musical and cultural influences that inspired the composer, who came from Czechoslovakia to America in 1892. Listening to his assistant, Henry Burleigh, sing slave songs, and visiting Wild West shows and the Kickapoo Medicine Show gave Dvorak the raw material from which to compose his masterpiece that, to both popular audiences and critics, captures the vibrancy and power of American music. Illustrated with archival black-and-white photos, and including index and source notes for further research, this book brings the dramatic and inspiring story of a musical masterpiece to life for young readers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Brilliant Book for Young Readers!
Joseph Horowitz loves the late 19th and early 20th world of culture. He is simultaneously scholar and activist. His bold, unprecendented project is to take historical moments and richly employ them to introduce the excitement of classical music to young readers. He could have no better scenario than Dvorak in the New World. Here the composer seeks to create an American musical language based on a synthesis of the high symphonic style with elements of Black and Indian music. The characters are vividly drawn and the whole is both beautifully written and wonderfully gauged for young readers. A real treat! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The life and times of famous composer Antonio Vivaldi
In reading some of the books in this Famous Composers Series it is surprising how many great composer were not considered great in their own lifetime. Antonio Vivaldi was a brilliant violinist and a gifted teacher, but apparently audiences grew bored with his concertos, church music, and opera during his lifetime. Like Mozart he died poor and alone in Vienna. This book by Roland Vernon is quite informative, working in all sorts of details about the times in which Vivaldi lived while chronicling the musician's life. For example, while talking about Vivaldi's childhood in Venice we learn all about the Doge and Patricians of Venice and the city's most impressive church, St. Mark's Basilica. But the focus is on Vivaldi as a musician and how he was a pioneer of the concerto, who explored new ways of composing solo instrumental passages to be placed between sections of orchestral music. However, all this wonderful information sometimes gets lost because these volumes are full of color illustrations. Ian Andrew provides some contemporary artwork to covers the specifics of Vivaldi's biography, but what really stands out are the historic paintings and contemporary photographs that give us a sense of the 18th century Venice in which he wrote and played music. I have seen a lot of books about famous painters that are not as well illustrated as the volumes in the Famous Composers Series. Other titles in this series introduce us to Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Gershwin, Mozart, Stravinsky, and Verdi. As always, it is recommended that young readers being introduced to Vivaldi, or any other composer, should listen to the famous musician's music while reading such a book. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another great book in this series
Author Mike Venezia does a great job explaining biographies to children in a way that is both understandable and interesting. The writing style is not dumbed down or patronizing in tone. This is book is one in a series, others are about other musical composers and artists.

The first few pages explain what the musical climate was like in Mozart's life and explains how people used music for entertainment purposes. This is brief and a very good opening to put Mozart's life in perspective. The rest of the book is a full span of Mozart's life. Unlike other books for children about Mozart, the fact that Mozart was a boy genius is not the main content of the book. Oddly, Mozart's children are never mentioned. Mozart's marriage is briefly mentioned as is Mozart's death.

I have mixed feelings about the illustrations. I appreciated that the illustrations documented the various time periods of Mozart's life. I loved the illustrations that were photographs, fine drawings, or copies of fine paintings of the places Mozart visited, of Mozart and his family, and scenes of his operas. I did not at all like the eight cartoons whose illustrations and accompanying text were sarcastic and silly. These eight cartoons were completely out of character with the text of the book and I didn't appreciate them at all. My children and I have enjoyed other books by this author that did not have dumb cartoons and jokes. My children, aged 4 and 6 haven't needed these silly and sometimes insulting jokes to make the subject matter enjoyable. The interesting biography's text and other illustrations are high quality and are better off without these cartoons. The cartoons downgrade my rating to a 4.

I recommend this book and others by Mike Venezia to teach young children about important people in history.

Mozart's life story told with Venezia's funny cartoons
When I discovered that Mike Venezia was following up his successful Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series with Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers, it was obviously going to be the volume on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that was going to be the one I would most be interested in reading. In terms of his cartoons illustrating in comic ways some of the key developments in Mozart's life from child prodigy performing with his older sister as their father toured them throughout Europe, Venezia certainly delivers. There are also historic paintings and other illustrations of Mozart from throughout his life. But while this volume is an adequate juvenile biography of the great musician, it is a less than satisfactory musical biography. Granted, this is an inherent disadvantage for the Composers series over the Artists series, given that at least in the latter you could reproduce the greatest paintings of the greatest composers, but Venezia refrains from mentioning specific works by Mozart until the final pages of the book. Given my inherent position that a young reader should read this volume while listening to a decent collection of Mozart's "hits," it would be useful not only if more works were specifically mentioned but if they were more specific than entire operas. The only way to appreciate great music is to listen to it and in all of these volumes telling of great composers from George Handel to George Gershwin I think that Venezia clearly has a great opportunity to direct his readers to some prime examples. This is what Venezia did in his volume in this series on Johann Sebastian Bach and it should be a standard part of every volume in the series. Still, young readers will get a much better sense for Mozart's entire life than they will from watching "Amadeus," but the film will do a better job of getting them to fall in love with his music. ... Read more