Synopses & Reviews
When the Lusitania was attacked in 1915, the American composer and New Yorker Charles Ives transformed the experience of this heartbreaking news into a musical piece. It begins with a jumble of traffic noises, then the hurdy-gurdy swells into the lovely old hymn and#8220;In the Sweet Bye-and-Bye.and#8221; In lyrical text and watercolorsand#8212;sometimes in dramatic wordless spreadsand#8212;this thoughtful picture book reveals not only a wartime tragedy, but a composerand#8217;s conviction that everyday music can convey profound emotionand#8212;and help heal a city. Young readers will understand that if they listen, music can be heard in the unlikeliest of places, from the busy chatter of a market to the wail of a fire engine.
Review
"The range of words explored is almost as vast as the world of music itself."
Review
"An imaginative fusion of finely tuned text and inventive illustrations."
Review
"It's an entertaining read for children and adults alike."
Review
"A mand#233;lange of words relevant to a music education . . . Well-developed subject matter and a sense of humor."--
The New York Times Book Review "Like a grand piano: It hits all the high notes but reaches the bass undertones as well . . . Fresh, eye-catching."--
Boston Herald Review
"By the second spread, with miners working in their long johns or, discreetly, "in the vanilla," listeners will be thoroughly hooked. The humor is broad and the language inventive, yet reminiscent of the times."--
Kirkus Reviews and#160;
"Johnston creates an unrepentantly exaggerated version of events that is sure to entertain, offering more factual information about Strauss in an author's note. Using a bright idea of his own, Innerst (Lincoln Tells a Joke) chronicles the raucous action in acrylic paintings on a canvas of, yes, old Levi's jeans. The denim's texture provides an appropriately rugged tone to the colorful proceedings."--Publishers Weekly,and#160;starred review
and#160; "An outlandish whopper of a tall tale, this story just begs to be read aloud with an old-timey Western accent. Johnston weaves together fact and fiction, resulting in a hilarious narrative about how Strauss became the denim king... A first choice for any collection, this book is worth its weight in denimand#8211;or gold."--School Library Journal, starred review
and#160;
"Johnston antes up the readaloudability with traditional tall-tale banter and a bold-faced "Dang!" every time Strauss gets a brainstorm. Innerst extends the fun by painting the sartorially challenged miners on, what else, blue jeans, craftily leaving the blue untouched for jeans, tents, chalkboards, ocean, and bay, and letting flat-felled seams do double duty as the floor of a covered wagon or the roadway of the Golden Gate Bridge."-Bulletin
Review
"Unthreatening despite its subject matter, yet impressively moving."
and#8212;Kirkus
"Stanbridge writes well for young children, with a straightforward bu absorbing text."
and#8212;New York Times Book Review
"Stanbridge's work is its own curious, yet quietly inspired composition, a meditative ode to an artist."
and#8212;Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Music and the alphabet have always gone together. Don't kids learn their letters by singing the ABCs? But you've never seen--or heard--a musical alphabet like this one. Beloved tunes. Unusual instruments. Legendary virtuosos. From anthems to zydeco, the language of music and the music of language harmonize in one superb symphony. It's a funky fusion for songsters of all ages! Includes endnotes.
Synopsis
A festive celebration of all things musical!
Synopsis
Wild West chaos and creative problem solving are the force behind a well-loved American institution. Whatand#8217;s a California miner to do when gold dust sifts right out of his holey pockets? With such a raggedy wardrobe, he may as well be mining in the vanilla (that is, his birthday suit)! Good thing Levi Strauss is out west, ready with his needle and a head full of bright ideas. With some quick thinking, quicker stitching, and handy arithmetic, Levi keeps all the gold rushers clothedand#8212;and becomes a modern American hero. A Wild West tall tale, Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea celebrates creativity, innovation, and the ubiquitous item that fills the closets of grateful jeans wearers worldwide.
Synopsis
A tender account of how Charles Ives came to compose the music that expressed the grief and shock of the whole city of New York after the sinking of the Lusitania.
About the Author
KATHLEEN KRULL is well known for her lively, award-winning nonfiction for young readers. She lives in San Diego, California.
STACY INNERST's award-winning artwork has been featured in magazines and newspapers worldwide. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
CITATION: "The range of words explored is almost as vast as the world of music itself."(School Library Journal (starred), Sep 1 2003 )
CITATION: "It's an entertaining read for children and adults alike."(Parents Magazine, Nov 14 2003 )
CITATION: "An imaginative fusion of finely tuned text and inventive illustrations."(School Library Journal, Nov 20 2003 )