Young Mozart (Picture Puffins) [Mass Market Paperback]

Rachel Isadora (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1999 | Age Level: 3 and up | Series: Picture Puffins

What better way to introduce young children to the world of Mozart than by reading them this stunning picture book? Caldecott Honor-winner Rachel Isadora recounts the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart— with special emphasis on his childhood— in clear, straight forward language perfect for little listeners. Each spread features an exquisite watercolor painting depicting Mozart at a different point in his life. "Isadora's soft-edged watercolors are a perfect fit for this story of the boy prodigy." — School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4. Isadora's soft-edged watercolors are a perfect fit for this story of the boy prodigy; they capture the elegant detail of the rococo period in central Europe while emphasizing the emotion of romanticism. The narrative begins with Mozart as a toddler, crying when his music went awry, and performing before the court as the legendary seven year old. The emphasis on the youth of the composer shows just how extraordinary his talents were from birth, even before the intervention of a musically talented family could help him to hone his skills. The text is simple enough for kindergartners to understand, yet the subject matter is interesting enough to support elementary-level music curricula. The title is misleading, since the book does progress into the composer's adult years, including his death. It serves as a good introduction to this fascinating man.?Ruth K. MacDonald, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-8. In this upbeat picture-book biography of Mozart, the focus is on the child prodigy musician who learned to write music before he could write words. Isadora's richly detailed period watercolors show the cherubic small boy first in his musical home, where he teaches himself to play the violin, and then performing for royalty in the cities of Europe. She talks about his fame as an adult, but there is no sense of him as a person, certainly none of the stormy troubles of Barbara Nichol's Beethoven Lives Upstairs (1994), just awe of Mozart's genius and a celebration of his glorious music. The last few double-page spreads show the stagings for his great operas, with a brief outline of their stories. A handsome introduction. Hazel Rochman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140564780
• ISBN-13: 978-0140564785
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,469,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Pictures are the Thing!, July 25, 2001

By 

jane scanlan (Pomfret, md. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Young Mozart (Hardcover)

YOUNG MOZART by Rachel Isadora is an acceptable way to introduce young children to the child prodigy Mozart. The very basic facts of his life story are outlined clearly and precisely. There are a few interesting anecdotes to liven the text: his father's nightly duets with the very young Mozart, Mozart's introduction to Marie Antoinette, his own children's pet starling, and his friends gathering around his death bed to sing the unfinished requiem. But Mozart's life seems quite conventional and tranquil, which is far from the story we know to be true. The pictures in the book, however, are charming and beautiful. It was the illustrations, in fact, that turned my own seven year old son from an audience who insisted he was not going to pay any attention if we didn't read a book about animals into a little boy who wanted to know why Mozart could write music before he could write sentences, why he had to wear a wig, and why he died when he was so young. The basic facts are there, and combined with the pictures make the book more memorable for children.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A 5 Star plus book, July 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Young Mozart (Picture Puffins) (Mass Market Paperback)

We, my students and I, love this book. It is a main take-out in our school library. I teach 3rd grade and I love to introduce my students to the arts. I find that Rachel Isadora's books often deal with artistic themes and I love all of them. I especially like this book because of the illustrations and the history that she writes about. I thank you for this super addition to our collection.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Play On, July 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Young Mozart (Picture Puffins) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a most wonderful book. I am a music teacher and just went online to order a 10 for my students. I love this book and find it very helpful when teaching about classical music, especially to young children. I hope Ms. Isadora is planning on creating more books about composers and music in general.