An Instrument for Florenda Second Edition - 2nd Edition by Tomeko Brown & Christopher Smallwood (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"I liked how the author clearly explained what Florenda's relationships were with the other characters like The Lyles and her friend Lilly. I think these two things will make it easier for younger readers who are starting to read chapter books for the first time not to get confused despite the length of the story being longer than what they are used to reading. I also liked how the book showed that while things may not work out exactly how you want, there are other ways to get to where you want. I think this is an important lesson for young readers. Overall, I think this book is perfect for readers of younger ages who are just starting to read chapter books."

- 12- year-old LitPick Reviewer (5 stars)

"The story is wonderful. There are so many beautiful and heartwarming moments here -hard work, perseverance, grit, love, and accomplishing something you really believe in and something your heart calls you to do."- Jennifer Rees, Children's Book Editor at Reedsy

Florenda Little grew up in Louisiana surrounded by music. When she attends a live orchestra performance, hearing the beautiful sounds of the clarinet sparks in her a powerful love for music. She can even picture herself playing on stage!

Now, her chance is finally here. After the coming summer break, her school is introducing their first ever band class. They even hired an orchestra player to be the teacher.

But when Florenda and her mother visit the music store, she's sad to find out that the instruments cost too much. Disappointed but not defeated, Florenda makes a plan: she's going to spend her summer vacation saving up money to buy a clarinet.

Will Florenda persevere and make her dreams come true?

An Instrument for Florenda is a fun, lively, and heartwarming story that teaches kids the importance of determination and community.

Review Quotes

"An Instrument for Florenda by Tomeko Brown is wonderfully written. I loved the themes covered, such as the value of hard work, patience, and commitment to what we want to achieve, which will resonate with many readers. This thought-provoking work also got me thinking about the importance of having good neighbors. The plot flows seamlessly, leaving no room for confusion for the reader, and the easy-to-understand language used makes the work accessible to all kinds of audiences. The characters were well-developed, and the reader will also appreciate the illustrations in the book, which will capture their imaginations. This was a good read, and I look forward to reading something else by Tomeko Brown. " Reviewed by Frank Mutuma for Readers' Favorite

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"A rich and beautifully written story brimming with heart and hope. Bravissimo!"- Reviewed by Kristine L., (Pages and Paws) at Reedsy Discovery

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"The story is wonderful. There are so many beautiful and heartwarming moments here -hard work, perseverance, grit, love, and accomplishing something you really believe in and something your heart calls you to do."- Jennifer Rees, Children's Book Editor at Reedsy