Overview
Listen.A little boy named
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
is playing the piano.
Look.
He is playing backward!
He is playing blindfolded!
Imagine.
What must his life be like?
Play, Mozart, play!
Acclaimed artist Peter Sís introduces very young children to the child genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in this picture book tribute to the beauty of listening, looking, imagining, and -- most of all -- playing!
Synopsis
Listen.
A little boy named
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
is playing the piano.
Look.
He is playing backward!
He is playing blindfolded!
Imagine.
What must his life be like?
Play, Mozart, play!
Acclaimed artist Peter Sís introduces very young children to the child genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in this picture book tribute to the beauty of listening, looking, imagining, and — most of all — playing!
Publishers Weekly
Sis's (Starry Messenger) whimsical imagination is in full play here as he presents an intriguing if somewhat unsettling portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's unconventional childhood. After learning that "His father turned him into a child sensation!" readers repeatedly view the man's hovering specter, represented by an often oversize, dark silhouette sternly wagging a finger at his young son as he commands him to "Practice, Mozart, practice!" The pressure placed on this young prodigy will not be lost on kids: rather than play with children, Mozart "played day and night. He played in his imagination. He played in his dreams. He played for his entire life." The text is minimal, taking a back seat to Sis's inventive, lively and eclectic black line and watercolor art. He incorporates a wild array of perspective, color, texture and imagery. In one striking, surreal spread, in which the youngster relentlessly practices the piano (while his father lurks, sentinel-like, at the door), objects from the room waft from the score he is playing, transformed into dreamlike images: a flute sprouts wings, a wax- covered candelabra acquires facial features, a cup and saucer spring to life. And, hauntingly, readers view a man's head submerged in water, only the eyes visible-perhaps a clue to the boy's sentiments about his demanding parent? A concluding biographical sketch offers some astounding particulars underscoring Mozart's genius: he learned his first musical piece in only 30 minutes just three days before he turned five, wrote his first composition that same year and played at European courts at the age of six. A virtuoso performance from a true maestro of his craft. Ages 3-up. (May) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
This sweet illustrated book introduces young readers to the ultimate musical prodigy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91). Play, Mozart, Play! will not inspire children to emulate the young composer's relentless practice habits, but it might ignite a love of this incomparable musical maestro.Publishers Weekly
Sis's (Starry Messenger) whimsical imagination is in full play here as he presents an intriguing if somewhat unsettling portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's unconventional childhood. After learning that "His father turned him into a child sensation!" readers repeatedly view the man's hovering specter, represented by an often oversize, dark silhouette sternly wagging a finger at his young son as he commands him to "Practice, Mozart, practice!" The pressure placed on this young prodigy will not be lost on kids: rather than play with children, Mozart "played day and night. He played in his imagination. He played in his dreams. He played for his entire life." The text is minimal, taking a back seat to Sis's inventive, lively and eclectic black line and watercolor art. He incorporates a wild array of perspective, color, texture and imagery. In one striking, surreal spread, in which the youngster relentlessly practices the piano (while his father lurks, sentinel-like, at the door), objects from the room waft from the score he is playing, transformed into dreamlike images: a flute sprouts wings, a wax- covered candelabra acquires facial features, a cup and saucer spring to life. And, hauntingly, readers view a man's head submerged in water, only the eyes visible-perhaps a clue to the boy's sentiments about his demanding parent? A concluding biographical sketch offers some astounding particulars underscoring Mozart's genius: he learned his first musical piece in only 30 minutes just three days before he turned five, wrote his first composition that same year and played at European courts at the age of six. A virtuoso performance from a true maestro of his craft. Ages 3-up. (May) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
Sis introduces the composer "considered one of the greatest composers in the world" with a brief, simple text that concentrates on Mozart's unusual childhood. The pressure from his father for him to "play!" as he toured Europe performing for royalty, is clear. "He played for his entire life." The few words that summarize this life are extended and enriched here by the visuals. Many biographies of the composer are available, but this kind of visual accompaniment is not. Sis gives us a very young, smiling Mozart with large blue eyes and curly red hair, doing a handstand on oversize piano keys on the front jacket/cover. Inside he is playing away, frequently on a keyboard instrument, but also on the violin or flute. Both heavy and fine black ink lines and watercolors offer some detail of interiors and people amid broad backgrounds of texture and color. One ingenious double-page spread displays sheet music with pictures illustrating tempos and moods along with the notes; Another is a stage set, suggesting The Magic Flute but composed in a surreal fashion. Another spread displays six elaborate unfolded fans, each depicting in detail Mozart performing in one of the courts of Europe. Each double-page spread is a new visual adventure. Although the final page gives the facts of his life, the pages before project the true spirit of the extraordinary composer. 2006, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers, and Ages 5 to 9.—Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz