Mr. Rex demonstrates via a picture book the results of the 12 Days of Christmas. Although humorous and at times, sweet, this book places the woman as the leader in the relationship. She is the one who gives the gifts and asks him to marry her.
-Borrowed from the library.
A simple biography for kids yet packed with interesting information about Fanny Crosby She was an amazing woman!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
The illustrations bring this old carol to life. I think the story and its appeal to children is lost in the sophisticated, haughty singing that sometimes accompany it.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Flora, the scullery maid at a grand hotel, dreams of attending a concert. While she scrubs dishes and floors, she hums and allows the music in her heart to swell. Then her favorite band, The Jazzers, arrive to perform at the hotel. Just maybe she can huddle in the corner and listen? The hotel manager soon dismisses that idea with a rebuke. Then she becomes a solution to a huge problem. Her life transforms beyond her comprehension!
I love the illustrations. The dressed up animals are adorable. It's a picture book I would return to to enjoy numerous times because of the illustrations. I especially love the cut-away of the hotel. The end of the story is a bit underdeveloped and predictable. I would buy this book just for the illustrations (if I was a mom of young girls).
A 1920s Cinderella story
*Highly recommend for the illustrations.
-Borrowed from the library.
Ms. Rosenstock reveals to the reader how Bill Monroe, the founder of bluegrass music, embraced music from an early age and pursued his passions to create a new genre of music. His story reveals how vital it is to learn from others and also to hone one's skills.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed via ILL.
I liked Joe Lasker's knight book so much, I searched for more books illustrated by him.
This story, written by Joe's son, relates the events leading up to composer and music director, Haydn's composition, "Farewell" Symphony. An intriguing and humorous story
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
What a captivating and unique book. Ms. Wood developed credible characters and created a entralling plot. Her writing is superb (sentence formation, metaphors/similies, word choice etc.).
Quinn, a neglectful husband and father, finds himself fulfilling his deceased eleven-year-old son's Boy Scout assignment-doing chores for 104-year-old Lithuanian woman, Ona on Saturdays. As the Saturdays progress, Quinn realizes that he enjoys Ona and calls her his friend. He also discovers more about his son and decides to finish his son's goals for Ona, to have her earn an entry in the Guinness World Records.
Aspects I did not like-some swearing/including f-word, a mother, whose sons are in a Christian rock band, is quite rough and says their faith is just a phase-not exactly a positive of Christians, one of Ona's friends may have had relations w/ some high school boys she was teaching
My ninth grader will be studying Beethoven for the next few weeks by reading picture books, anthologies, and chapter books about him and also listening to his music.
This picture book begins when Beethoven begins losing his hearing and how he redirected his focus on composing vs performing. Majority of the content then describes his inspiration for the piece Eroica Symphony.
Very interesting Ms. Celenza shares information in a concise yet engaging manner.
A bonus-A CD with Heroic Symphony & "Overture to Goethe's tragedy Egmont"
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed via ILL.
This humorous picture book relates how complicated it was when Beethoven would move into a different apartment. The movers lugged five legless pianos from place to place. I chuckled as I read this book. The author's note clarifies which tidbits of information have been verified.
The endpapers are copies of his working score for the piano transcription, "Grosse Fuge".
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed via ILL.
I only read the chapter on William Cowper (researching for our monthly poetry treat at lunch). It, however, will be a book I return to if I want to learn extensively about a hymn writer. Ms. Cook offers a comprehensive biography in a narrative form. She also includes (at least in Cowper's chapter) other biographers' conclusions that may not be accurate and refutes them. The first chapter and the last two chapters include shorter blurbs about many hymn writers. Chapters two through fourteen focus on one writer (Isacc Watts, Philip Doddridge, Charles Wesley, William Williams, Joseph Hart, Augustus M. Toplady, John Newton, William Cowper, James Montgomery, Henry Francis Lyte, Horatius Bonar, Francis Ridley Havergal,and Franny J. Crosby).
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from my church library.
This picture book focuses on Vivaldi's interactions with the girls at the orphanage, Ospedale della Pieta in Venice. As a priest, he was their music teacher. People agreed that their performances were one of Italy's finest. After dismissing him, the board of directors regretted their decision, for Vivaldi had soared into fame. Wanting him to return but not able to afford him, they made a deal with him-to compose for the girls on an ongoing basis. Vivaldi agreed and composed more than 140 concertos for them. The author likes to imagine he created The Four Seasons with the girls in mind.
The four sonnets to accompany each piece are included (written after the music was composed). A CD recording of the music is part of this book. The illustration style/technique were not to my taste.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Leopold scans original works to create their classical story collections. This one was scanned from the 1906 book in Harvard College Library. Each story begins with the composer as a young child, describing their childhood and early giftedness, and their success as an adult, ending with their death. The writing is narrative and will appeal to children.
*Highly recommend.
I own this book.
My oldest son is learning to play Winter by Vivaldi on piano and would like to learn the rest of The Four Seasons. I was curious about this composer.
This picture book's captivating narrative and its sweeping illustrations enthralled me. Little is known about Vivaldi. Mrs. Shefelman utilizes the few facts known about him to create an excellent story. She explains after the story which incidents were true.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
The Fifty-Year Friendship Between Beethoven and Nannette Streicher, who Built His Pianos
A fascinating story about Beethoven and Nannette from their early years until their deaths. The author shares information about them as individuals and then when their lives intersected. The flow and overarching thread seemed lacking at points, and sometimes the information seemed scant, but I am still highly recommending it because the story is unusual and inspiring.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed via ILL.
1966 Caldecott winner
Based on a Scottish song preserved through oral tradition, Sorche Nic Leodhas wrote it down for children all over the world to enjoy! Lachie MacLachlan invites all who pass by his home to share what he, his wife, and ten bairns "got". When his house "explodes" with so many people, his guests offer to build him a bigger home, so there is "always room for one more".
A delightful book!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
This coming school year my high school freshman will study in depth Ludwig Van Beethoven (part of history) by using Charlotte Mason's Music Study with the Masters. I plan to utilize the following picture books to enrich the study-
Famous Children Beethoven by Ann Rachlin illustrated by Susan Hellard (includes interesting, personal snippets about his life but seems to be disjointed and not well organized) from the library-
Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers-Ludwig Van Beethoven by Mike Venezia*-interesting facts presented in an entertaining manner Borrowed from the library *Highly recommend-
While studying the 1920s, we listened to Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. One of my sons read one of these picture books about him too. Both books are borrowed from the library.
The Music in George's Head by Suzanne Slade illustrated by Stacy Innerst-This book shares Gershwin's life up through the concert where Rhapsody in Blue was first performed. The art was a bit jarring for my taste but was apt for the style of the musical piece.
A beautifully illustrated book about Mozart's entire life and his acknowledgment that his gift for composing music was a gift from God.
*Highy recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Guido, a Benedictine monk living at Pomposa Abbey, loved music. The complicated hymns, however, were challenging to learn. One day he realized that only six tones existed in any song. His discovery enabled him to teach choir singers hymns & songs quickly. He published a book about his methods and was recognized by the Pope.
A lot of additional information about Guido, his life at an abbey, and his methods are included after the story.
Pair with: Do, Re, Mi: If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido d'Arezzo by Susan L. Roth with Angelo Mafucci
*Highly recommend-especially for music lovers.
-Borrowed from the library.
Recently my boys and I invited friends over to share the history behind Christmas songs while eating Christmas treats. My sixteen-year-old researched and shared the story behind "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy". I requested a few books from the library to assist his research. This book offers insight to Tchaikovsky's early childhood and his early interest in music. I thought the book ended abruptly.
-Borrowed from the library.
Mr. Mike Venezia features him in his "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers" series.
