About this item
Highlights
- An animated conductor and his orchestra of animals let the words move them in this engaging exploration of some beautiful and inspiring musical terms.
- 3-7 Years
- 10.3" x 8.2" Hardcover
- 32 Pages
- Juvenile Fiction, Performing Arts
Description
About the Book
Musical terms come to life, and kids get to join in!A rhythmic poem is paired with exuberant illustrations of a conductor and his animal orchestra to convey the meanings of seven musical terms. The text contains a succinct physical definition for each term. For example, to define glissando the text reads, "Gently gliding, slipping, sliding." And in the illustrations, the animals use movement to interpret this description, flowing across the spread as if rolling on a wave. Readers will find it easy to learn the terms --- and will have great fun playing along!Staccato. Adagio. Allegro. Fortissimo. What child can resist pronouncing these words --- or performing them!Book Synopsis
An animated conductor and his orchestra of animals let the words move them in this engaging exploration of some beautiful and inspiring musical terms.
In this simple introduction to seven musical terms, Robert Heidbreder's rhythmic poetry is paired with Dusan Petričic's exuberant illustrations to perfectly convey the terms' meanings. Each term is first featured on a spread beside an image of a conductor animatedly leading his (unseen) orchestra in alignment with the term. Turn the page, and we find a short line of text that provides a succinct physical definition of the term, along with expressive art showcasing the animal orchestra using movement to interpret the description. For glissando, we find: "Gently gliding, slipping, sliding," with an image of animals flowing across the pages as if rolling on a wave. For fortissimo, the text reads, "Loudly crashing -- stomping, stamping," while the animals are shown with their heads thrown back and their mouths wide open, roaring for all the world to hear. It's a performance so enticing, readers won't be able to resist joining in!
This unique picture book provides an engaging and entertaining way for children to understand and remember the meanings of these common musical terms (all Italian and great fun to pronounce). But it is also sure to inspire readers to get up and move, following and mimicking the animals, or, perhaps, playing the conductor. An excellent choice for any unit on music, this book offers an accessible and effective way to learn musical terms as well as a fun opportunity to play with music.
Review Quotes
Together, Heidbreder's euphonious text and Petričic's dynamic illustrations offer bravura performances on every page.--Horn Book
... an enticing, informative, and understandable introduction to music for young readers.--CM Magazine
An accessible and inviting look at aspects of classical music that will have children dancing.--School Library Journal
Musical mayhem to entertain and engage.--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
About the Author
Robert Heidbreder was born in Illinois but now lives in British Columbia. He has enchanted children with his joyful poems and rhymes for more than two decades. A former elementary school teacher (and winner of the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence), he believes that children's love of silly and absurd combinations of words makes them natural poets. His books include Eenie Meenie Manitoba, Don't Eat Spiders, I Wished for a Unicorn, Drumheller Dinosaur Dance, Python Play, See Saw Saskatchewan, Crocodiles Say, A Sea-Wishing Day, Lickety-Split, Crocodiles Play, Shake-Awakes, Noisy Poems for a Busy Day, Black and Bittern Was Night and Song for a Summer Night.
