Cassie Loves Beethoven [Hardcover]

Alan Arkin (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 3 and up

When Hallie and David decide they want a pet cow, their father reluctantly agrees. After all, the children have promised to take care of it, and it will be an educational experience for everybody. But as the family brings their new pet home to their farm, they can't even begin to imagine how educational the experience of living with Cassie will turn out to be. The cow won't produce milk, and the kids try everything. And then they hit upon the solution: Beethoven. Not only does Cassie begin to produce milk, but she develops an insatiable fascination for music and, well, she talks. But Cassie's love for music may get her in trouble when she decides to become a concert pianist.

This wonderful story from renowned actor and author Alan Arkin explores the unique dynamics that make up every family, the small triumphs that flavor life, and the enduring beauty and appeal of music.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At least some of actor, director and sometime composer Arkin's (The Lemming Condition) multiple credits seem to converge in this quirky tale of one quite dramatic and eccentric Guernsey cow, Cassie. In an attempt to encourage her to give milk, siblings David and Hallie Kennedy place a radio playing classical music in her shed. When she hears Beethoven's Sixth Symphony (the Pastoral Symphony), the animal suddenly begins to talk, announcing that the music "made me happier than I thought possible in this life. It's brought me to places that I didn't know existed." And after attending a symphony concert, Cassie is no longer content to listen to Beethoven's musicAshe is determined to play it. Her rather unwieldy hooves get in the way, however, until the children's father fashions a 30-foot-long musical keyboard. On this the cow learns to play a rondo by Beethoven, which she then performs with both a high school and a symphony orchestra. Arkin injects some funny snippets ("A good beginning.... She's got a very light touch for a cow," announces Cassie's first piano teacher), yet the single-gag story line sags midway through the often wordy narrative. Ages 8-12. (Nov.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-Arkin skillfully weaves information about music into his story through the creation of an interesting protagonist. Choosing a cow for a pet is unusual, but for Hallie and David, it's only the first in a string of events that leads them and their father on the strangest adventure of their lives. It turns out that Cassie is no ordinary cow: not only can she talk, but she also passionately loves Beethoven's music. Her obsession with the composer creates discontent and longing and causes the family to create a huge keyboard for her, which eventually leads her to the stage. However oddly fantastic the plot, it only occasionally gets bogged down in narrative, and the message about the power of music shines through. Cassie muses after repeatedly listening to Beethoven's Sixth Symphony: "How does he [Beethoven] know these things?-How does he feel so much? And then once he feels these things, how does he make us feel along with him? How does he make sound tell us about open fields and green grass and hills and trees and streams and thunder and lightning?" Young music lovers will appreciate this novel, as will those who enjoy a good story with a humorous twist, but in either case, it will benefit from an enthusiastic booktalk.
Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (November 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786805641
• ISBN-13: 978-0786805648
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,490,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cassie Loves beethoven, January 13, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Cassie Loves Beethoven (Hardcover)

I thought that Cassie Loves Beethoven was good because she could talk and play the piano.Then when she here's Beethoven's music her whole life changes.So then she goe's to a concert and she decides she need's to play an instrument,she tries almost every instrument but nothing seem's to work.Then Hallie and David's dad Myles made Cassie a 40 foot long piano.Then Cassie became very famous,then got mad at a newspaper review and got in a fight.From then on she just played for fun and with no audience.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book!, November 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Cassie Loves Beethoven (Hardcover)

I love this book! it is fun and lovely and really quite cuttie wootie~