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Summary
Summary
Mo Willems, a number one New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, composes a powerful symphony of chance, discovery, persistence, and magic in this moving tale of a young girl's journey to center stage. Illustrator Amber Ren brings Willems' music to life, conducting a stunning picture-book debut.
Author Notes
Mo Willems was born on February 11, 1968. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School for the Arts, he spent a year traveling around the world drawing a cartoon every day, which were published in the book You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons. For nine seasons, he worked as a writer and animator for PBS' Sesame Street, where he received 6 Emmy Awards for his writing. During this time, he also served as a weekly commentator for BBC Radio and created two animated series, Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats and Cartoon Network's Sheep in the Big City.
While working as head writer for Cartoon Network's Codename: Kids Next Door, he began writing and drawing books for children. He received three Caldecott Honor Awards for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! in 2004; Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale in 2005; and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity in 2008. He also created the Elephant and Piggie series for Easy Readers, which were awarded the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal in 2008 and 2009.
His drawings, wire sculptures, and ceramics have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums across the nation. Occasionally he serves as the Radio Cartoonist for NPR's All Things Considered. He voices and produces animated cartoons based on his books with Weston Woods studios. The animated Knuffle Bunny was awarded Best Film during the New York International Children's Film Festival in 2008 and received the Andrew Carnegie Medal in 2007. His title Happy Pig Day made Publisher's Weekly Best Seller List for 2011. In 2012 his title Goldilocks and The Three Dinosaurs made The New York Times Best Seller List. In 2013 his titles: That is Not a Good Idea!, Let's Go for a Drive! and I'm a Frog! made the New York Times Best Seller List. In 2014 The Pigeons Need a Bath! and Waiting Is Not Easy! made the New York Times Best Seller List.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
A quiet Willems book traces a child's path to her musical vocation as the consequence of a string of events and contributions: "Because a man named Ludwig wrote beautiful music-/ a man named Franz was inspired to create his own." For the love of Schubert, present-day musicians form an orchestra. They practice and schedule a concert, and because "someone's uncle caught a cold," a brown-skinned girl in a red sweatshirt gets a ticket, and the experience changes her. She floats out of the concert hall; vignettes show her practicing multiple instruments diligently. Because "she worked very hard"-and because "she was also very lucky"-she becomes a composer, and the performance of her work joins the chain of events that change lives. Willems's story celebrates making music while acknowledging those whom celebrations of high culture sometimes ignore: "Because workers checked the lights and the seats...." Debut illustrator Ren takes the sprightly energy of The Philharmonic Gets Dressed and adds depth, with distinctive expressions for each diverse face and a wonderful vision of the powerful emotions that music evokes-building on the idea that it takes multiple players to create something wonderful. Ages 3-5. Author's agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt Agency. Illustrator's agent: Jen RofAc, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Starting with Beethoven inspiring Schubert; leading to a young brown-skinned girl discovering music; and culminating in that girl becoming a composer and conductor, this is a jubilant celebration of the power of music. The narrative through line keeps pace with ribbons of music that swirl around the detailed digital illustrations featuring a variety of skin colors, hair, and clothing in a diversely peopled orchestra and audience. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Because a man named Ludwig wrote beautiful music, a man named Franz was inspired to create his own. Because people wanted to hear it, they formed an orchestra. Because the musicians had practiced their instruments since childhood, they could play it beautifully. Because workers checked lights and swept floors, the concert hall was ready. Because her uncle had a cold, a girl accompanied her aunt to the performance. And when the orchestra played Shubert's Unfinished Symphony, it captivated the child, transported her, changed her. As she grew up, she worked hard, learning about music, playing it, and writing it, until, one day, she conducted her own piece in the same hall. And hearing it, someone else was changed. Writing simply but powerfully about inspiration, its links from one generation to another, and the seemingly random elements that culminate in a transformative moment, Willems creates a narrative that will resonate with both children and adults. In her first picture book, Ren uses expressive line drawings and subtle washes of color to illustrate this unusual story. Her depiction of music brings a sense of enchantment to the pages, particularly in the series of pictures indicating the girl's growing ability. This radiant picture book celebrates the magical, far-reaching power of serendipity. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: If there's an award, Willems has won it. That sound you hear is this new collaboration soaring off the shelves.--Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2018 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-In this celebration of the chance happenings in life that inspire us, Willems presents an artfully written dedication to the power of music and those who live for it. Ren's lively and deeply saturated cartoon illustrations delightfully capture the audacity and power of inspiration as a little girl, by chance, gets taken to a concert and enjoys a symphony orchestra performance. The experience is so transcendent that she becomes galvanized to create music of her own. In order to get to that point, however, there were other people whose passions and hard work paved the way for that little girl in row C, seat 14. VERDICT An iconic book not only for musicians and music lovers but also for anyone wishing to celebrate those who came before them and those who come after.-Amanda C. Buschmann, Carroll Elementary School, Houston © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Willems departs from his usual comic fare in this ode to the many people that inspire and contribute to the creation of art in young people.Each spread in the first half of the book states a causal effect: "Because a man named Ludwig wrote beautiful music / a man named Franz was inspired to create his own. // Because many years later, people wanted to hear Franz's beautiful music / they formed an orchestra." Musicians who have practiced diligently are invited to participate, workers make sure the concert hall is ready, and ushers open the doors. This chain continues as each person contributes to the culmination of a present-day grand orchestral performance at which a little tawny-brown-skinned girl is present, "because" her uncle has caught a cold and given her his ticket. This little girl is changed by this experience, and in the second half of the book, she grows up to create her own music that then inspires another child, who listens outside. Debut illustrator Ren's delicate cartoon art depicts both a realistic multicultural community and magical representations of music and inspiration. Both the protagonist and the child who hears her are depicted borne aloft by tendrils of colored music.While many books celebrate the arts and creativity, this one stands out for recognizing the importance of community support; from the orchestra librarian to the music lovers who purchase tickets, everyone contributes to the culture of creativity. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
