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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Park Grove Library (Cottage Grove) | EASY READER MIL | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | EASY READER MIL | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
The tenth book in Claudia Mills' beloved series
For Gus, the longest half hour of the day is spent practicing the piano. Why can't he be outside, shooting hoops with Ryan Mason? Even more painful are the lessons: Mrs. Moore complains about Gus's squishy fingers. But most painful of all is the piano recital. Gus has to play a piece called "The Horse Race," and he's not sure he will remember it.
As a child, Grandpa played the violin, so he knows exactly how Gus feels. Grandpa also knows about something Gus will love--making music with others--and once again he shows Gus the way in a story with pictures that "reflect the sunny warmth of loving connections passed across generations" ( Booklist ).
Author Notes
Claudia Mills is an American author of children's books. She is also an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado Boulder. She has written several children's series including: Mason Dixon Series, Gus and Granpa Series, West Creek Middle School Seres, and Dinah Series.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
Horn Book Review
In this tenth book in the successful Gus and Grandpa series, Gus dreads his piano lessons and muffs his recital but begins to enjoy playing the piano when Grandpa joins him on his violin. Mills hits her usual high notes in depicting Gus's feelings and warm relationship with Grandpa; Stock's loose images shaded with watercolors are the perfect accompaniment. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Gr. 1-3. Gus knows that practice makes perfect, but the truth is, the half hour he has to practice piano is the longest half hour of his day. In the tenth story in Mills' Gus and Grandpa series of chapter books, beginning readers follow Gus' path from reluctant piano student to nervous recital performer to family band member. In the happy grand finale, the whole family (including Grandpa on the violin) plays a song called The Horse Race, and Gus finally understands what it means to have music in his fingers. Stock's lovely, expressive, watercolor and pencil artwork perfectly complement this story about the joy of playing music and the reward of hard work. Plentiful illustrations, a large font, big margins, short sentences, and simple vocabulary ensure a reader-friendly experience, especially for children who are familiar with the agony and ecstasy of music lessons. --Karin Snelson Copyright 2004 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-A strong addition to a popular series, this story will capture the imagination and interest of anyone who has ever taken music lessons. Although he'd rather shoot hoops with his friend, Gus spends the required half-hour practicing the piano. With Grandpa's gentle encouragement, the boy makes it through his recital, but only comes to truly love playing the instrument when his family puts together an impromptu band later that day. The delightful relationships among the characters add to the charm of the book. The loving bond between Gus and his grandfather is apparent through their words and actions, and also through the soft, comforting illustrations. The interaction between Gus and his mother as she monitors his practice session rings true. Mills uses amusing metaphors and clever wordplay throughout the text. In the end, Gus learns that sometimes doing your best makes family members just as proud of you, if not more so, than when you demonstrate perfection. An engaging easy-reader.-Anne L. Tormohlen, Deerfield Elementary School, Lawrence, KS (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
