Theme: musician

Django: World’s Greatest Jazz Guitarist

By Book Importer | Published: November 7, 2011

Born into a travelling gypsy family, young Django Reinhardt taught himself guitar at an early age. He was soon acclaimed as the “Gypsy Genius” and “Prodigy Boy,” but one day his world changed completely when a fire claimed the use of his fretting hand. Folks said Django would never play again, but with passion and [...]

Descriptors: Biography, Europe, France, Intermediate (ages 9-14), Picture Book » Other Themes: , , , » Leave a comment

The Musicians of Bremen: A Tale From Germany

By Book Importer | Published: November 7, 2011

A tongue-in-cheek retelling of a favorite folktale follows the adventures of Donkey, Dog, Cat, and Rooster, four worn-out farm animals who seek their fortunes as musicians and find a comfortable robber’s den in the woods.

Descriptors: Europe, Folklore, Germany, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9) » Other Themes: , , , , , , » Leave a comment

Sylvie and the Songman

By Book Importer | Published: August 15, 2011

Sylvie Bartram lives alone with Mr. Jackson the dog and her eccentric composer father, who invents strange and wonderful musical instruments. One day she returns from school to find a message left in toothpaste on the bathroom mirror: her father has been kidnapped. Later that night, the house is visited by a terrifying apparition—a half-man, [...]

Descriptors: England (UK), Fantasy, Intermediate (ages 9-14) » Other Themes: , , , , , , , , » Leave a comment

Tortoni Tremolo: The Cursed Musician

By Book Importer | Published: June 9, 2011

Musician Tortoni Tremolo’s constant practicing so annoys his neighbor that she puts a curse on him, but to her dismay the spell does not have the desired effect.

Descriptors: Europe, Fantasy, France, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9) » Other Themes: , , , » Leave a comment

The Django

By Book Importer | Published: May 28, 2010

Jean longs to play the banjo, but the Django keeps on messing things up! So Jean sends the Django away, but wonders if he has lost his most precious inspiration.In this fictional story inspired by the famous jazz musician Jean “Django” Reinhardt, a young boy named Jean meets a special character called the Django. He’s [...]

Descriptors: Biography, Europe, France, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9) » Other Themes: , , , , , » Leave a comment

The Bremen Town Musicians

By Book Importer | Published: February 22, 2010

While on their way to Bremen, four aging animals who are no longer of any use to their masters find a new home after outwitting a gang of robbers.

Descriptors: Europe, Folklore, Germany, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9) » Other Themes: , , , , , , » Leave a comment

The Musicians of Bremen

By Book Importer | Published: February 22, 2010

Seeking a new lease on life, four clever creatures make music and mischief in this elegant edition of an oft-told classic.

Descriptors: Europe, Folklore, Germany, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9) » Other Themes: , , , , , , » Leave a comment

Arion and the Dolphins

By Book Importer | Published: February 22, 2010

A retelling of the ancient Greek legend of a young Corinthian musician who, having won a gold prize for his singing, is thrown overboard by greedy sailors and befriends a dolphin who becomes his rescuer and protector.

Descriptors: Europe, Folklore, Greece, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9) » Other Themes: , » Leave a comment

Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

Celia Cruz is the Queen of Salsa. She enjoyed singing and sings songs to her siblings when she was younger. In high school, she sang Afro-Cuban rhythms in local clubs. Then she was hired as lead singer for Cuba’s most popular band, La Sonora Matancera, and together they created a new style of Latin dance [...]

Descriptors: Biography, Caribbean, Cuba, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9) » Other Themes: , , » Leave a comment

Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

HE STARTED LEARNING to play the piano when he was three years old in Shenyang, China. Today he is one of the world’s most outstanding pianists. In this engrossing life story, adapted by Michael French, Lang Lang not only recounts the difficult, often thrilling, events of his early days, but also shares his perspective on [...]

Descriptors: Biography, China, Intermediate (ages 9-14) » Other Themes: , , , , » Leave a comment