It's nonfiction time! Today's read dives into the life of a talented and interesting composer: Joaquin Rodrigo. My musical background had me wanting to grab this one up right away and take a peek...but the other side of me is more careful. Biographies are a tough sell for picture book readers, especially when they center around lesser-known personalities. So, I hit these with huge interest on my end, but with a very critical eye.
Let's see how this one does!
A BOY WHO MADE MUSIC
The Extraordinary Life of Joaquin Rodrigo
by Karen A. Wyle
Illustrated by Tomasz Mikutel
Oblique Angles Press
56 pages
ages 4 to 8
COMING AUGUST 4th!!!
Joaquin Rodrigo was a brilliant Spanish composer, writing music for piano, violin, chorus, and guitar. He was also, from the age of three, almost completely blind.
This picture book follows Joaquin from carefree early childhood through his life-altering illness, his discovery of classical music, and his successful career and family life. Joaquin's story can inspire children to dream beyond the apparent limitations suggested by circumstance.
The book's back matter includes multiple activities and enrichment materials.
This picture book follows Joaquin from carefree early childhood through his life-altering illness, his discovery of classical music, and his successful career and family life. Joaquin's story can inspire children to dream beyond the apparent limitations suggested by circumstance.
The book's back matter includes multiple activities and enrichment materials.
MY TIDBITS
Keeping the reader in mind, these pages bring across the wonder of music in the inspiring life of Joaquin Rodrigo.
Joaquin was a Spanish composer, who lost his sight at the age of three thanks to a disease. The biography launches from these first emotional months to show how his love for music developed and grew until he matured into the amazing composer he's known to have been today.
The book begins with an inviting beach moment, drawing readers into a playful atmosphere as three-year-old Joaquin and his family play along the water's edge. It's a simple, cheerful moment, and a nice way to launch the story. The author then gives young readers time to connect with Joaquin and his family, showing him as a normal kid and just like them. When he grows ill, the struggle touches in a more personal way. This feel of closeness holds about halfway through the book, allowing listeners/readers to connect with Joaquin and understand his interest in the sounds he hears around him, especially music.
The second half of the book slides more into the biography atmosphere. The facts are kept very minimal, keeping the concentration mostly on highlights during his life. The author does take time to explain the use of brail in composing music and the difficulties it imposes when translating this into traditional musical scores. At the end of the read, readers are invited to try several activities concerning brail and even encouraged to compose a small song themselves. I do wish there was a link to, at least, one of Joaquin's most popular songs but also understand that this would involve quite a bit more effort on several fronts.
The text flows nicely and stay pretty concise to make sure not to weigh readers/listeners down. The illustrations keep the scenes lively and add a nice balance between supporting the given information and offering entertainment to readers.
I see this as an especially lovely read for themes surrounding music in group as well as individual settings. It also would make a great addition to one concerning blindness or other challenges.
And here she is...
Karen A. Wyle is an appellate attorney and photographer (and mother of two brilliantly creative children, now grown) as well as an author. Her published work includes four picture books, soon to be five; fourteen novels, soon to be fifteen; and one nonfiction resource covering multiple aspects of American law.
