Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Classical music fans and historians feted the work and life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on the occasion of the composer's 250th birthday last month. The new Musical Picture Book addition Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by Ernst A. Ekker, illus. by Doris Eisenburger, does the same. The hardcover book and accompanying 50-minute CD give young readers and listeners a taste of notable works including The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Though this biography is presented in picture-book format, the prose style and depth of information are geared to an older audience. Ekker's offering is replete with details about Mozart's life and his growth from child prodigy to renowned composer. Factual material is interspersed with anecdotes describing a young musician's life at court in the 18th century. Through a somewhat fictionalized text, readers witness Mozart's temper and intolerance, arrogance, and competitive nature. Eisenburger's whimsical and colorful illustrations add a great deal to the book, presenting visual insight into the period in which Mozart lived and developed. An accompanying CD includes a wide range of his compositions. This is an attractive book, but Mike Venezia's Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Children's Press, 1995) is a more accessible selection for early elementary youngsters. There is a conflict in the newer volume between presentation and text that makes it hard to pinpoint an appreciative audience.-Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Each double-page spread of this fictionalized biography effectively narrates part of Mozart's life, including created dialogue. The watercolor illustrations reflect the text and feature shadowed depictions of the characters' imaginings. No sources are given. A CD of well-chosen selections of Mozart's music is included. Timeline. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
