Beethoven's Wig [Hardcover]

Richard PerlMutter (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

The book follows the outrageous goings on in the tremendous, stupendous, monumental, colossal wig of Beethoven.

Editorial Reviews

Review

If you're a kid or a kid at heart chances are you find the thought of Ludwig van Beethoven's silly white wig more amusing than the great composer's timeless compositions. --Renee Montagne, NPR

His songs are funny, but Perlmutter is not just a highbrow "Weird Al" Yankovic. The lyrics are hummable mnemonics, each imparting information about the work or its composer. --Nicole Arthur, The Washington Post

Classical music was never supposed to be this much fun. Was it? --Lori Sears, The Baltimore Sun --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Rounder Books (October 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579401120
• ISBN-13: 978-1579401122
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 12.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #608,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For legions of Wig fans: the book is here!, December 21, 2005

By 

Mark Stevens (Alameda, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven's Wig (Hardcover)

Given the remarkable success of the Grammy-nominated Beethoven's Wig CDs, it's not surprising that the new children's book by the same name would be captivating, clever, and the very best in educational fun. The colorful, whimsical illustrations are wholly original in style, and the horizontal large-page format is perfect for communicating that Beethoven's wig is indeed VERY BIG -- along with too many entertaining images, wordplays, and sight gags to describe. The accompanying audio CD, which includes the original title song based on Beethoven's famous 5th symphony, also includes delightful new songs based on the famous composer's Minuet in G and Moonlight Sonata. The latter, called "Beep Beep Beep" -- and one of Beethoven's Wig performer and lyricist Richard Perlmutter's wittiest works to date (which is really saying something, as you know if you've already heard his two previous award-winning Beethoven's Wig CDs) -- is truly hysterical. Storytelling at its best. As with earlier discs, the symphonic versions of these great compositions (without the lyrics) are also included as part of Perlmutter's very successful strategy for educating young children about the joys of classical music. Whether you're new to Beethoven's Wig, or already one of the millions of enthusiastic fans, this book and disc combination is highly recommended.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to the fun of classical music for young people, February 10, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven's Wig (Hardcover)

The first book of the Read Along Symphony series (which is in turn based on the award-winning Sing Along Symphonies music series), Beethoven's Wig is a children's picturebook that combines humor with a love of music. The whimsical story about Beethoven's gigantic and growing white wig is meant to be sung along with the notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Zany illustrations of the catastrophically titanic wig and a bonus CD with "Beethoven's Wig" and two previously unreleased songs, all in both vocal and instrumental versions, round out this picturebook treasury. An excellent introduction to the fun of classical music for young people.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kids find this funny, July 14, 2006

By 

Laura (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven's Wig (Hardcover)

I should have given this 3 stars, but made a mistake and couldn't change it! Don't need the book - the CDs are great (at least #3 is for sure and #2 is growing on us). The book, while cute and funny, was purchased after we bought Beethoven's Wig #3, and it is OK. #3, however, is absolutely a must-have - it is hilarious and the music is beautifully done. My kids love the instrumental pieces as much as the sing-along versions. We then bought #1 (which we have not heard - we gave it as a gift) and #2, which is good but not from the start like #3.