Sebastian: A Book about Bach [Hardcover]

Jeanette Winter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1999 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A long time ago, a boy named Sebastian was born into a family of musicians. He heard music everywhere, especially in his own head, and he wrote down what he heard. Sebastian married, raised a family, and wrote more than a thousand pieces of music. He also created a little book of music especially for his wife, Anna Magdalena, so that in the evenings the whole family could make music together. Hundreds of years after his death, Bach’s music is heard and played all over the world. Many people think it is some of the most glorious music ever written. And today young students--like Bach’s own children--can learn to play the music from Anna Magdalena’s notebook.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Winter sets a mythic backdrop for her picture book biography as she shows the lineage of the esteemed composer: "In the days of castles and kings,/ the birds listened/ when Vitus Bach played his cittern." While her profile of Georgia O'Keeffe in My Name Is Georgia was grounded in the details of the landscapes that so moved the artist, here Winter's distinctive narration eschews the anecdotal and informal, and therefore distances readers from the subject: "The music filled the church like thunder./ Angels listened." Winter's signature acrylic paintings, evocative of folk art, also take on an other-worldly aspect: dramatic black backgrounds and silhouettes set off the many patternsAof clouds, stars, trees, rooftops, cobblestones. Winter casts the angelic audience smiling upon Bach from the firmament in a far more favorable light than the "unruly boys" Bach tutors and the "fidgety choirboys" at the church where Bach plays the organ. Readers who prefer an idealized portrait will be well served by this unusual, if somewhat elusive, book. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-As she did so effectively in My Name Is Georgia (Harcourt, 1998), Diego (Knopf, 1994), and Josefina (Harcourt, 1996), Winter combines a spare text and colorful illustrations to capture her subject's personality. In a folkloric tone, she presents the outlines of the composer's youth, family, marriage, and work. The author clearly relates how music dominated Bach's life as compositions filled his head and he worked feverishly to get them down on paper. She also succeeds at conveying the complexity of composition: "He heard one melody for the violin, one for the trumpet, one for the flute, and one for the oboe." Winter's palette is dominated by the blue, teal, and violet that are used to border each page, although within the illustrations, they take on a deeper, more vibrant shade. Waving ribbons of color represent the music throughout the illustrations. Although few details of the composer's life are included, readers will sense his determination to succeed. Most of all, they will understand the importance of his music to the world.
Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 015200629X
• ISBN-13: 978-0152006297
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,429,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #34 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( B ) > Bach, Johann Sebastian

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If we could only give it more stars!, October 4, 1999

By 

Leslie A. Harris "Leslie in Texas" (Midlothian, Tx USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sebastian: A Book about Bach (Hardcover)

My daughter and I loved this book! It's story is easily understood and the beautiful illustrations are sweet and peaceful and really bring the words to life. While the author did write about Bach's church music, she did not mention his devotion to God. But there are other books about that. This is a book for everyone.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfection In Read Aloud Picture Book Bios, June 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sebastian: A Book about Bach (Hardcover)

Winter has achieved another perfect picturebook bio for reading aloud (see My Name Is Georgia and Diego Rivera). Simply told, with beautiful language this book is a keeper! Wow, she's an awesome illustrator too! Music teachers across the country should be buying multiple copies for their classrooms! Buy it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful musician bio, September 15, 2002

By 

"renovia" (Portland, ME United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sebastian: A Book about Bach (Hardcover)

This book is wonderfully written. It tells a mini-story of Bach's life in a very child-friendly way. It touches on his birth (and death) and his religious life. The focus is on Bach - not his religion. The artwork is vibrant and I highly recommend the book.