A slim but effective introduction for kids to a beloved musical figure.
A short, illustrated primer about the life and work of renowned Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Part of the Classical Composers series (the text was written with “consultation by John Viscardi, Executive Director of Classic Lyric Arts”), this installment focuses on the life and works of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, beginning with his birth in Votkinsk, Russia, in 1840. He demonstrated an early musical talent during piano lessons, which he began taking at 4 years of age, but was forced to neglect his passion to attend boarding school in St. Petersburg. He later pursued private piano lessons while working as a clerk after graduation and eventually took classes at the newly opened St. Petersburg Conservatory. He then moved to Moscow to teach at a music school and compose in his spare time. Tchaikovsky’s first ballet, Swan Lake, was not well received—but it did catch the eye of the rich Nadezhda von Meck, who offered to become his patron. This allowed him the time to focus solely on creating music, such as his masterpieces The Nutcracker and the 1812 Overture. After dying from cholera at the age of 53, Tchaikovsky went on to be considered one of the world’s most famous and treasured composers. Perilli’s colorful cartoon illustrations use sketched lines and minimal details to complement the accompanying short and simple text. Occasional photos are placed throughout (including shots of Tchaikovsky himself and important places like his childhood home and his grave); the text also includes “B SHARP” boxes that provide additional kernels of insight into his life. While this brief volume is focused solely on introducing children to the famed composer and will offer little to those already versed in his works, Mattern’s succinct text manages to include pertinent facts while also humanizing the composer as an actual person (“Pyotr was very sensitive. At school, he often cried if he made a mistake or if his teacher scolded him”).
A slim but effective introduction for kids to a beloved musical figure.Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781643714431
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Red Chair Press
Review Posted Online: Nov. 1, 2025
A solid base hit, with guidance on the great American pastime—and life itself.
Actor Renna, best known for his role in the 1993 film The Sandlot, offers baseball-themed anecdotes and affirmations.
Heartfelt reminders that life’s a marathon, not a sprint, may be familiar, but many young readers will find them revelatory. The author also stresses that failure is just as much a part of life as success, encourages children to embrace individuality and work hard despite being the underdog, and emphasizes that practice shows commitment and “prepares you for the big game or the test.” All these lessons will be relatable to young people, and many are supported by real-life stories: basketball superstar Michael Jordan’s short-lived stint in minor league baseball, an unexpected victory during Game One of the 2015 World Series, and Renna’s willingness to swallow his fear when, as a young teen, he was handed a new script just an hour before shooting a pivotal scene in The Sandlot. Each tidbit stands alone, but taken together, all 20 tenets provide a lively road map to life. The colorful spot art features images of diverse young baseball players, plus some visually appealing double-page spreads filled with movement and action. White space is used thoughtfully, allowing readers to reflect on how these words of wisdom might apply to them.
A solid base hit, with guidance on the great American pastime—and life itself. (Informational picture book. 7-11)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780593754870
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
A pivotal moment in a child’s life, at once stirring and authentically personal.
Before growing up to become a major figure in the civil rights movement, a boy finds a role model.
Buffing up a childhood tale told by her renowned father, Young Shelton describes how young Andrew saw scary men marching in his New Orleans neighborhood (“It sounded like they were yelling ‘Hi, Hitler!’ ”). In response to his questions, his father took him to see a newsreel of Jesse Owens (“a runner who looked like me”) triumphing in the 1936 Olympics. “Racism is a sickness,” his father tells him. “We’ve got to help folks like that.” How? “Well, you can start by just being the best person you can be,” his father replies. “It’s what you do that counts.” In James’ hazy chalk pastels, Andrew joins racially diverse playmates (including a White child with an Irish accent proudly displaying the nickel he got from his aunt as a bribe to stop playing with “those Colored boys”) in tag and other games, playing catch with his dad, sitting in the midst of a cheering crowd in the local theater’s segregated balcony, and finally visualizing himself pelting down a track alongside his new hero—“head up, back straight, eyes focused,” as a thematically repeated line has it, on the finish line. An afterword by Young Shelton explains that she retold this story, told to her many times growing up, drawing from conversations with Young and from her own research; family photos are also included. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A pivotal moment in a child’s life, at once stirring and authentically personal. (illustrator’s note) (Autobiographical picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-545-55465-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
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