Trumpets

Children's Literature

Part of the "Music Makers" series for young readers, this volume features large, attractive photographs, very simple text and a collection of facts about trumpets. Each book in the series identifies the family to which its instrument belongs and tells a bit about its history, how the instrument is made and how it produces its sound. Photos of different varieties of the instrument from many countries around the world are an appealing feature of each volume. The text of Trumpets is enlivened by illustrations of jazz trumpeters (including Louis Armstrong), brass players in a marching band and an exotic Indian trumpet decked with red ribbons and spangles. The brightly colored photos in the entire series are generally well-chosen, clear and often striking. The information is minimal, but can serve as an introduction to the instrument for children who have heard it played and are curious to know more. A teacher would probably want to use this series with other books like Lloyd Moss's Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin! to convey more of the sound of the instruments and something of the joy of making music. Better would be to pair each with recordings, or best of all, to have live musicians visit the classroom as each book is used, both to provide music on that instrument and to answer questions that are sure to arise. Short glossaries and indices are provided. 2001, Child's World, $22.79. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Slim series entries that provide basic information. In each book, two-page spreads address different aspects of the instrument, or instruments in the case of Drums. A full-color photograph faces each descriptive paragraph in large type. On a textual level, these titles succeed as accessible introductions for young readers. Unfortunately, they are not as successful visually. On occasion, there is a disparity between what is described and the accompanying photographs. In Clarinets, a discussion of the kinds of clarinets is teamed with a musician's view of the instrument's bell. The final spread in Drums shows a photograph of the various types of instruments, but only the kettledrum is mentioned on the opposite page. Trumpets seems to avoid this problem for the most part, except for a final spread pairing pictures of "Other Brass Instruments" with a written invitation for children to take up the trumpet. In addition, the captions are often too generalized, misleading, or incomplete. In spite of occasional problems with the illustrative matter, these books will be appropriate for collections where simply written introductions to single instruments are needed.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.