Young Mozart

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Biographies for the very young can be a tricky business. In this absorbing account of the great composer's life, Isadora (Lili at Ballet) adroitly navigates the potential hazardsoversimplification, stilted prose, a yawn-inspiring excess of detail, to name just a few. Keenly attuned to her audience, she demonstrates both a simplicity of focus and an artist's eye for detail, selecting scenes and elements in Mozart's life of most interest to children, such as little three-year-old Wolfgang bursting into tears when he sounded out a wrong note on the clavier, or the pet starling that sometimes sang along with the grown-up Mozart and his own children many years later. Serene watercolors provide an almost impressionistic backdrop to the unfolding events; like stage sets for one of Mozart's operas, they serve to give readers a strongly rooted sense of place, both in terms of historical setting as well as era. Ages 3-8. (Apr.)

Children's Literature - Kathleen Karr

Nicely written, with lovely watercolors, this is an enchanting introduction to Mozart for young and old alike. Young Mozart's passion for music and for pomp is beautifully translated to the page. It should make little ones yearn to hear his music.

Children's Literature - Jan Lieberman

Children are never too young to listen to Mozart's music and to learn something about his life. Rachel Isadora's book presents anecdotal scenes of Mozart's life, making this accessible to young children. His adult life is presented briefly, allowing readers to enjoy full-page color illustrations portraying the costume of the day, Mozart's lifestyle, the elegant balls he may have attended and a grand view of the city of Vienna. While this is a fine introduction to Mozart, the book would lose its purpose if you don't play Mozart's music. The Eine Kleine Nacht Music is always a good beginning, or play your favorites.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 4Isadora's soft-edged watercolors are a perfect fit for this story of the boy prodigy; they capture the elegant detail of the rococo period in central Europe while emphasizing the emotion of romanticism. The narrative begins with Mozart as a toddler, crying when his music went awry, and performing before the court as the legendary seven year old. The emphasis on the youth of the composer shows just how extraordinary his talents were from birth, even before the intervention of a musically talented family could help him to hone his skills. The text is simple enough for kindergartners to understand, yet the subject matter is interesting enough to support elementary-level music curricula. The title is misleading, since the book does progress into the composer's adult years, including his death. It serves as a good introduction to this fascinating man.Ruth K. MacDonald, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA

Kirkus Reviews

A concise, anecdotal biography of Mozart's life, emphasizing his youthful years as a child prodigy.

When three-year-old Wolfgang hits a sour note, he cries. He composes concertos before he writes words. He teaches himself the violin. He unwittingly proposes marriage to Marie Antoinette before age seven. In period settings evoked in strong watercolors, Isadora (Lili Backstage, p. 463, etc.) cobbles together carefully chosen tidbits to convey the life of this "wonderchild" to the picture-book audience. The story is simplified—some will say sanitized—taking broad leaps to high points in the composer's career and omitting complications such as his revolutionary ideas and his family's disapproval of Mozart's wife. The stately wardrobes of the time will amuse children, but they will be awed at the myriad accomplishments of Mozart's short life.