PPBF: Young Mozart

Now that the A to Z Blogging Challenge is finished, it's now back to PPBF!

Welcome again to Perfect Picture Book Fridays, where we review picture books which we deem worthy of mention.  This concept was created by Susanna Hill, and is a helpful resource for librarians, teachers and parents.  For a list of all books reviewed so far, along with activities to complement them, click here.

Source

Author/Illustrator: Rachel Isadora
Publisher: Viking (The Penguin Group)
Date: 1997

Ages: 5-9

Themes: musicians, Mozart, gifted children

Front Flap: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart learned to write music before he could write words. By the age of five, he had taught himself to play the violin, and soon he was playing before the crowned heads of Europe. By the time Wolfgang was seven, he could compose music while he played it, and by the age of twenty-one, after touring for many years through Europe, he had completed almost three hundred works. He was the greatest composer of his time, and many believe the greatest who ever lived.

First Lines: Wolfgang climbed up onto the chair in front of the clavier. He was too small to reach the keys, so he had to kneel. Nannerl, Wolfgang's older sister, listened as little three-year-old Wolfgang tried to play the piece she had just finished. When a note sounded right, Wolfgang laughed. But when a note sounded wrong, he burst out crying.

Why I like this book: Isadora has told the story of Mozart's childhood in a simple but engaging way, so that even younger listeners/readers can enjoy it.  Her colorful illustrations reflect European life centuries ago, but the scenes are ones any child can relate to.

Here are some links to complement "Young Mozart":

For younger children here, and here.

For older children here.


Enjoy a bit of "A Little Night Music"  here: