Mozart Finds a Melody Ages 5-9

PREVIEW

For the first time in Wolfgang's life, the famous composer was at a loss for a tune. He tried every trick to get his imagination going. He sang standing on his head. He played his violin in the bathtub. He even threw darts at the blank music paper. Alas, nothing worked.

An imaginative story about Mozart's many inspirations

Wolfgang Mozart must compose a new piano concerto to perform at the famous Burgtheatre in Vienna. But Mozart can't think of a note to write. When he hears his hungry pet starling sing out melodiously, his creativity begins to flow. Before he can put notes to paper, however, his muse escapes through the window, and Mozart is off on a frantic search to bring her back. Will Mozart find both his friend and song in time?

Based on a true story about the famous composer and his beloved pet starling, this enchanting tale celebrates inspiration in any form it takes.

Mozart Finds a Melody

By Stephen Costanza

Edition: illustrated

Published by Macmillan, 2004

ISBN 0805066276, 9780805066272

40 pages

Costanza spins an upbeat tale from a ...

... wisp of fact in his solo debut. A case of writer's block keeps young Mozart staring at a blank page, until his pet starling chirps an intriguing fragment of melody before escaping out the window ... more ». The composer's ensuing search takes him through Vienna's streets, where he hears laughter and other sounds that add to the birdsong—and by the weekend, there's a new piano concerto to perform. As in his art for April Pulley Sayre's Noodle Man: The Pasta Superhero (2002), Costanza suffuses his scenes with a golden light that falls alike on Mozart's flyaway mane, on the elaborately costumed Viennese, and on that starling (colored here more like a hummingbird, but call it poetic license)—who returns in the end to perch on the composer's baton. As chronicled in Mordicai Gerstein's What Charlie Heard (2002), the later composer Charles Ives actually did create music inspired by ambient sounds, though to very different effect. But either tale makes a thought-provoking study of the creative process. (afterword) (Picture book. 7, 8, 9)

Kirkus Reviews Copyright (c) VNU Business Media, Inc.

K-Gr 3 Ages 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 -In this fictionalized version of ...

... how the composer wrote his "Piano Concerto no. 17 in G Major," Mozart is facing a case of writer's block and a looming deadline. His pet starling begins to sing and the notes provide a fine melody ... more ». When the young man opens her cage, she flies out. He looks for her all over the city but doesn't find her. However, the sounds of the streets give him additional inspiration so that he can complete the piece and perform it as planned. During the concert, Miss Bimms hears the music and flies to the theater where she is reunited with her owner. Done in gouache, acrylic, and colored pencil, the sepia-toned illustrations provide beautifully detailed glimpses of Vienna and the concert hall. Unfortunately, Mozart is shown with a round head, big eyes, and wild hair-slightly stylized features that give him the appearance of a Cabbage Patch doll. There is a silliness about the story that seems to detract from the man and his talent. In an author's note, Costanza indicates the source for his ideas. Though not outstanding, this tale can be used to introduce Mozart and to open discussion about how a composer might get inspiration from life around him.-Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City

Reed Business Information (c) 2004

Show Time!: Music, Dance, and Drama Activities for Kids Ages 9-12

Kids can learn to develop their skills as singers, dancers, and actors through more than 80 activities that include imitating a musician or musical instrument, acting out a song, or creating a mirror dance. Illustrations.
Show Time!: Music, Dance, and Drama Activities for Kids

By Lisa Bany-Winters

Edition: illustrated

Published by Chicago Review Press, 2000

ISBN 1556523610, 9781556523618

194 pages

Gr 3-6, Ages 9, 10, 11, 12 -An introduction to musical ...... theater. The author covers the history of musicals from those inspired by Shakespeare to those written by Sondheim in one- and two-page chapters with added tidbits in sidebars. Creating musicals ... more » from poetry, basic acting preparation, rhythm and dance, and creative dramatics form the basis for activities. There are games, scenes for experimentation, and short scripts to stage. Many activities are physical in nature, and would work well with groups of young actors. The directions are given in organized steps. Some of the activities are quite creative and will challenge even the more seasoned performers. A few games involve vocal expression, but adults could add sound to any number of the activities; indeed, many invite experimentation. Simple drawings add a friendly touch. Since the book looks at musical theatre from so many points of view, it will be useful for different pursuits, e.g., teachers, directors working with young actors, and children looking for direction in theatrical ventures.-Cris Riedel, Ellis B. Hyde Elementary School, Dansville, NY

Cahners Business Information (c) 2000

I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello Ages 4-7

PREVIEW

He's shy, a wallflower. He's the man at the side of the room listening to a duet for cello and viola. Even now you wouldn't notice him. But our shy fellow suddenly has an urge to swallow a cello, which is precisely what he does. And he doesn't stop there. He follows it with a harp, a sax, and a fiddle. On and on he goes, trying to satisfy his voracious appetite for musical instruments. A strange diet, you say? It's the perfect diet for a strange fellow, a strange, shy fellow. Barbara S. Garriel's wacky take-off on the old woman who swallowed a fly is the perfect match for John O'Brien's fertile and funny imagination.

I know a shy fellow who swallowed a cello

By Barbara S. Garriel

Illustrated by Barbara S. Garriel

Edition: illustrated

Published by Boyds Mills Press, 2004

ISBN 1590780434, 9781590780435

32 pages

Surreal illustrations add disturbing and ...... enjoyable vigor to this adaptation of "I Know an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly." The shy fellow is listening to a string duet when, much to the consternation of the cellist, he swallows the cello ... more »—"perhaps he'll bellow." This strange gentleman, now shaped like the cello he has swallowed, follows up with the harp from an Irish dance troupe, the saxophone from a jazz band, a cowboy's fiddle, a marching band's cymbal, the flute from a revolutionary war piper, and a birthday party's kazoo. With each addition to his strange meal, the shy fellow becomes more and more strangely shaped. At last he swallows the bell off a passing cat's collar—one snack too many!—and the resulting explosion returns the instruments to the musicians in a delightfully vibrant musical blast. The dynamic line of the illustrations, full of swoops and squiggles, provides excellent accompaniment to this silly reworking of a familiar rhyme. (Picture book. 4, 5, 6, 7)

Kirkus Reviews Copyright (c) VNU Business Media, Inc.

Meet the Orchestra Ages

PREVIEW

Have you ever met an orchestra? Well, here's your chance!

Meet the rabbit with her flute... The koala cellist...the tuba-playing warthog...the alligator on the drums...

This unusual introduction to the orchestra describes the instruments - strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion - and offers interesting information about them.

Playful illustrations show the animal musicians as they gather for an evening's performance. Then the conductor lowers his baton, and the wonderful music begins...

Meet the Orchestra

By Ann Hayes, Karmen Thompson

Illustrated by Karmen Thompson

Edition: illustrated

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1995

ISBN 0152002227, 9780152002220

32 pages
From Publishers Weekly
Working within the framework of an evening at the symphony--the title page features concert-goers buying tickets, the last page shows musicians and audience members heading home--these collaborators have drummed up a treasure of a book for musically inclined children. Each instrument of the orchestra--from oboes and violas to tubas, trumpets and timpani--is explained, with clear definitions as well as more subjective information as to how each one sounds (the clarinet's "cool tones melt in your ears just like ice cream melts in your mouth"). Thompson's illustrations are sumptuously silly--but musically correct--featuring an array of formally dressed animal musicians (check out the otter in tails on the piccolo). Readers also meet the conductor and learn his role, and are treated to a glimpse of the orchestra seated and in full cry. It's a smashing introduction to classical music, and a must prior to a first visit to the symphony. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-- An attractive, well-planned book that introduces the orchestra's families (groups of like instruments) and its members. In clear and understandable prose, each instrument's function, especially as it relates to the other members of its family, and its sound are described in sometimes poetic phrases--"its song can be bright as laughter, light as air, soft as a whisper, or sad as a tear." Single- or double-page spreads feature a large watercolor illustration of an animal playing the instrument under discussion. Although most are aptly chosen for their instruments--a polar bear playing a bassoon and a lion as the conductor--some are disconcerting. The sight of a chimpanzee in a pink dress and frilly pantaloons sitting at a grand piano lessens the effectiveness of that instrument's description. Overall, however, these creatures add a lively note and enable the book to be friendly and accessible without exhibiting the overriding silliness found in Eugen's Orchestranimals (Scholastic, 1989). A good book to use in the classroom as well as individually, this is a collaboration between two artists whose love for music and the orchestra is evident throughout. --Jane Marino, White Plains Pub . Lib . , NY
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Zin! Zin! Zin!: A Violin Ages 4-8

When this book begins, the trombone is playing all by itself. But soon a trumpet makes a duet, a french horn a trio, and so on until the entire orchestra is assembled on stage. Written in elegant and rhythmic verse and illustrated with playful and flowing artwork, this unique counting book is the perfect introduction to musical groups. Readers of all ages are sure to shout "Encore!" when they reach the final page of this joyous celebration of classical music.
Zin! Zin! Zin!: A Violin

By Lloyd Moss, Marjorie Priceman

Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman

Edition: illustrated

Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1995

ISBN 0671882392, 9780671882396

32 pages
Amazon.com Review
"The STRINGS all soar, the REEDS implore, / The BRASSES roar with notes galore. / It's music that we all adore. / It's what we go to concerts for." In this exuberant tribute to classical music and the passionate, eccentric musicians who play it, author Lloyd Moss begins with the mournful moan and silken tone of one trombone. A trumpet sings and stings along, forming a duo, then a fine French horn joins in, "TWO, now THREE-O, what a TRIO!" The mellow cello ups it to a quartet, then ZIN! ZIN! ZIN! a violin soars high and moves in to make a quintet. The flute that "sends our soul a-shiver" makes a sextet, and "with steely keys that softly click," a sleek, black, woody clarinet slips the group into a septet. We move on! A chamber group of ten! And the orchestra is ready to begin. Moss should be congratulated for creating a playful, musical stream of rhyming couplets that seamlessly, slyly teaches the names of myriad musical groups. Marjorie Priceman, the whimsical, masterful illustrator of Elsa Okon Rael's When Zaydeh Danced on Eldridge Street and Jack Prelutsky's For Laughing Out Loud, won a Caldecott Honor Award for this swirling, twirling, colorful musical world worthy of thunderous applause and a standing ovation. (Ages 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly
This debut book by author Moss, as kids today would say is boss. Its clever, jazzy verse presents (In language that is never dense) a helpful intro to each orchestra instrument-how some are alike but rather more are different. He starts with the trombone's "mournful moan," playing solo (i.e., alone); then adds a trumpet, French horn and cello-all sounding forth a signature "hello." Each musical portrait (in quatrains) abounds with perfectly chosen, alliterative sounds. Thus the flute, notes Moss, "sends our soul a-shiver; flute, that slender silver sliver." And Priceman's zany art's just right, with loose-limbed figures taking flight around each spread in garb bizarre, if proving how funky musicians are.With every new instrument joining the throng of diligent players practicing song, Moss incorporates numbers and stops only when his team finally reaches a "chamber group of ten." So the book can be used as a counting tool (A great way to perk up a dull day at school): but it really works best, it's easy to see, as a deft means of meeting the symphony. So a plentiful praise to this finely matched pair, whose pictures and words show unusual flair.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PS Music Book List Ages 4-5

PS Music Book List
StoryPlace
http://www.storyplace.org/preschool/activities/readinglist.asp?id=52

Buy this book online	Charlie Parker Played Be Bop Written & Illustrated by Chris Raschka Charlie Parker was a great saxophone player. He played a kind of jazz called be bop. Meet Charlie Parker in this musical book and chant such phrases as "fisk fisk" and "Boppitty, bibbitty, bop. BANG!" The colorful, bold illustrations reinforce the bouncy humorous tone. This book is a great introduction to jazz and should definitely be read aloud to get the full rhythmic effect.
Buy this book online	Going to the Zoo Tom Paxton Illustrated by Karen Lee Schmidt What fun! With a rollicking beat, the reader accompanies a family on their trip to the zoo. The children describe each animal at the "zoo, zoo, zoo" as they go along. The illustrations are bright, lively, and very fun. The melody for the song is included so you can sing along with the story.
Buy this book online	Miss Mary Mack: A Hand-Clapping Rhyme Mary Ann Hoberman Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott This well known hand-clapping game comes to life with fun, colorful illustrations. Included are a few verses not so well known. The elephant falls "so hard... he made a hole,...in her backyard..the soda popped...the picnic stopped." The elephant eventually stays with Mary Mack and gets his own silver buttons. Instructions are given for the hand-clapping game in the front end pages. This is a great, fun book to share with children of all ages.
Buy this book online	Possum Come a-Knockin' Nancy Van Laan Illustrated by George Booth This is a very funny story about a mischief-making possum. possum loves nothing better than playing tricks on people, so when a knocking is heard coming from outside the door, everybody inside stops what they are doing and goes to investigate. Grandpa, Granny, Ma, Pa, and even the cat and dog look to see who could be making that terrible noise, but when they open the door - no one is there. Read along to see if possum will ever be caught in the act, or if he'll get a chance to play some tricks another day. The cartoon-like illustrations add another level of humor to this already funny story.
Buy this book online	Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp Carol Diggory Shields Illustrated by Scott Nash What happens when all the dinosaurs get together for a dance? Well, the earth quakes and volcanoes erupt, of course. All the dinosaurs are getting ready for the Saturday Night Stomp, a music and dance party. They come from far and wide to do the Conga, the Triassic Twist, and the Brontosaurus Bump. The rhyming text makes a great read aloud, but practice pronouncing your dinosaur names first! The cartoon style illustrations are bold and colorful. This is a fun book for dinosaur fans.
Buy this book online	Sing, Sophie! Dayle Ann Dodds Illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger Sophie is a young cowgirl who loves to sing, but her family is too busy to listen. When a summer storm hits the farm, Sophie's family learns to appreciate her music when she saves the day! Sing Sophie is a delightful book with downhome country lyrics that kids will love.
Buy this book online	The Hippo Hop Christine Loomis Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott The Hippo Hop is the hippest happening place in town where animals can unwind after a hard day's work. Zebras, monkeys, tapirs, and lemurs get in the groove and move to the tropical beat in this Calypso club. Plenty of fun is shared in this rhyming and rhythmical book. You will find yourself clapping along to the beat and enjoying the feast of color and motion captured on every page. The vibrant watercolor and ink pictures are perfect mediums to show the animals in their dizziest moods as they swing and sing to the music and get crazy at the Hippo Hop.

Making Musical Instruments Charlotte, NC

Making Musical Instruments - Carol Raedy,
a musician and educator from Charlotte, NC,
has put instructions online for making simple musical instruments.
Using common household items you can guide your students
to make a banjo, bass, dulcimer, drum, rainstick, and thumb piano.

http://www.satisfied-mind.com/index.htm

Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys Ages 9+

Anyone who saw him play piano at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony will be fascinated by Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys, an autobiography written with Michael French. Search for “Lang Lang” on YouTube, and be intoxicated by this Chinese master of Western classical piano music. No superlative is too super to describe his showy technique and pure emotion—think Chopin, Liszt, Beethoven-- and he’s still only 26. His life is a harrowing mythical journey from being a child without a childhood—a prodigy in a poor family, with a loving if strict-unto-abusive father-- all the way to rock-star-like fame and fortune. Along the way, readers will absorb a considerable amount about China, its history and culture, as well as the power of all kinds of music, particularly classical. A recent New Yorker reports that 40 million children in China are currently studying piano—the “Lang Lang effect” that could easily migrate here (Delacorte, ages 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15, 16, 17, 18 ). FROM:

Don't Laugh at Me

"Don't Laugh at Me" book and CD

$15.00

It's here! "Don't Laugh at Me" is now a children's book/CD package. With lyrics by Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin, and illustrations by Glin Dibley, this book will comfort anyone who has ever been bullied or made fun of. The hardcover book includes an afterword by Peter Yarrow from Peter, Paul and Mary; music, lyrics and chords for the song; and a CD with two versions of the song - one by Steve and Allen, and an instrumental version for singing along. It is a Reading Rainbow book, published by Tricycle Press, a division of Ten Speed Press.

For more information on the Don't Laugh at Me Project that teaches tolerance in schools, visit here.
Steve Seskin Website

Sing My Song

"Sing My Song" book and CD

$20.00

Award-winning songwriter Steve Seskin has long helped budding balladeers discover the songs within them. Now, in a book based on his elementary school songwriting workshops, he shares the creative process that led him to seven number-one hits, including "Don't Laugh at Me."

Through author's notes and songs written with students, Seskin shows readers how to come up with a title, create lyrics and rhymes, and use emotion and imagery. Each song appears with an original illustration by a top artist. The accompanying CD, which features this spirited collection of songs performed by Steve and a chorus of kids--plus four instrumental tracks to pair with new lyrics--will inspire readers to put their own feelings, whether silly or sincere, to paper and write a song of their own.
Steve Seskin Website
Ink Kathleen Krull

Pecorino's First Concert

By Alan Madison, AnnaLaura Cantone

If you think you know the silliest boy in the world,
you're wrong. Pecorino Sasquatch is the silliest boy in the world.
Just watch him as he heads off to the first concert he's ever seen,
conducted by the world-famous Vittorio Pimplelini.
Before the day is out, Pecorino will furmuzzle a man
with a long mustache, wamboodle himself down into a tuba,
and cause the most Brobdingnagian blast of a note
that anyone has ever heard. It's all in a day's work for Pecorino.

This delectably silly musical adventure, written

by Alan Madison, the second-silliest boy in the world,

features pictures by AnnaLaura Cantone,

the silliest illustrator in the world

(unless Pecorino decides to take up drawing).

View and hear this online at the Los Angeles Public Library:
http://www.lapl.org/kidspath/ Click on TumbleBook Library,
StoryBooks, P, then the Book or ViewOnline.
11 minutes, 41 second of pure fun!
eBooks for eKids!

From School Library Journal Kindergarten-Grade 2–Young Pecorino
makes his first trip to a city concert with his mother
and is fascinated with instruments of the orchestra.
Entranced by the siren call of unmanned instruments
on the empty stage, Pecorino explores the workings
of the tuba a bit too deeply. Despite his attempts to
wiggle, wossle, and wamboodle himself out, he is trapped.
This entertainingly silly tale is further enhanced by a
larger-than-life guest conductor and a perplexed and
furmuzzled tubist–capable of a Brobdingnagian blow on his
instrument. Cantone's mixed-media pen-and-paint illustrations
of large-nosed, expansive cartoon figures add whimsy to
descriptive text filled with nonsensical words and the thoughtful
logic of a child. This quirky musical adventure will be
a hit with young audiences.
–Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information,
a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Charlotte Mecklenburg County Public Library Source
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