Because

Mo Willems

Book - 2019

A series of events, some seemingly very insignificant, lead to a young girl attending a life-changing concert.

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1 / 3 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room jE/Willems Due Mar 31, 2024
Children's Room jE/Willems Due Apr 18, 2024
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Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
New York : Hyperion Books For Children 2019.
Language
English
Main Author
Mo Willems (author)
Other Authors
Amber Ren (illustrator)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 27 cm
ISBN
9781368019019
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

*Starred Review* Because a man named Ludwig wrote beautiful music, a man named Franz was inspired to create his own. Because people wanted to hear it, they formed an orchestra. Because the musicians had practiced their instruments since childhood, they could play it beautifully. Because workers checked lights and swept floors, the concert hall was ready. Because her uncle had a cold, a girl accompanied her aunt to the performance. And when the orchestra played Shubert's Unfinished Symphony, it captivated the child, transported her, changed her. As she grew up, she worked hard, learning about music, playing it, and writing it, until, one day, she conducted her own piece in the same hall. And hearing it, someone else was changed. Writing simply but powerfully about inspiration, its links from one generation to another, and the seemingly random elements that culminate in a transformative moment, Willems creates a narrative that will resonate with both children and adults. In her first picture book, Ren uses expressive line drawings and subtle washes of color to illustrate this unusual story. Her depiction of music brings a sense of enchantment to the pages, particularly in the series of pictures indicating the girl's growing ability. This radiant picture book celebrates the magical, far-reaching power of serendipity. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: If there's an award, Willems has won it. That sound you hear is this new collaboration soaring off the shelves.--Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2018 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

A quiet Willems book traces a child's path to her musical vocation as the consequence of a string of events and contributions: "Because a man named Ludwig wrote beautiful music-/ a man named Franz was inspired to create his own." For the love of Schubert, present-day musicians form an orchestra. They practice and schedule a concert, and because "someone's uncle caught a cold," a brown-skinned girl in a red sweatshirt gets a ticket, and the experience changes her. She floats out of the concert hall; vignettes show her practicing multiple instruments diligently. Because "she worked very hard"-and because "she was also very lucky"-she becomes a composer, and the performance of her work joins the chain of events that change lives. Willems's story celebrates making music while acknowledging those whom celebrations of high culture sometimes ignore: "Because workers checked the lights and the seats...." Debut illustrator Ren takes the sprightly energy of The Philharmonic Gets Dressed and adds depth, with distinctive expressions for each diverse face and a wonderful vision of the powerful emotions that music evokes-building on the idea that it takes multiple players to create something wonderful. Ages 3-5. Author's agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt Agency. Illustrator's agent: Jen RofAc, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-In this celebration of the chance happenings in life that inspire us, Willems presents an artfully written dedication to the power of music and those who live for it. Ren's lively and deeply saturated cartoon illustrations delightfully capture the audacity and power of inspiration as a little girl, by chance, gets taken to a concert and enjoys a symphony orchestra performance. The experience is so transcendent that she becomes galvanized to create music of her own. In order to get to that point, however, there were other people whose passions and hard work paved the way for that little girl in row C, seat 14. VERDICT An iconic book not only for musicians and music lovers but also for anyone wishing to celebrate those who came before them and those who come after.-Amanda C. Buschmann, Carroll Elementary School, Houston © Copyright 2019. 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

Starting with Beethoven inspiring Schubert; leading to a young brown-skinned girl discovering music; and culminating in that girl becoming a composer and conductor, this is a jubilant celebration of the power of music. The narrative through line keeps pace with ribbons of music that swirl around the detailed digital illustrations featuring a variety of skin colors, hair, and clothing in a diversely peopled orchestra and audience. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

Willems departs from his usual comic fare in this ode to the many people that inspire and contribute to the creation of art in young people.Each spread in the first half of the book states a causal effect: "Because a man named Ludwig wrote beautiful music / a man named Franz was inspired to create his own. // Because many years later, people wanted to hear Franz's beautiful music / they formed an orchestra." Musicians who have practiced diligently are invited to participate, workers make sure the concert hall is ready, and ushers open the doors. This chain continues as each person contributes to the culmination of a present-day grand orchestral performance at which a little tawny-brown-skinned girl is present, "because" her uncle has caught a cold and given her his ticket. This little girl is changed by this experience, and in the second half of the book, she grows up to create her own music that then inspires another child, who listens outside. Debut illustrator Ren's delicate cartoon art depicts both a realistic multicultural community and magical representations of music and inspiration. Both the protagonist and the child who hears her are depicted borne aloft by tendrils of colored music.While many books celebrate the arts and creativity, this one stands out for recognizing the importance of community support; from the orchestra librarian to the music lovers who purchase tickets, everyone contributes to the culture of creativity. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.