Review by Booklist Review
Growing up in Tel Aviv, young Itzhak Perlman loved music, whether it came from the radio, a klezmer band, a cantorial chant, or a classical symphony. He first attempted the violin at age three; following hospitalization and rehabilitation for polio, he resumed his training at five. By age 10 he was giving solo performances, and he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show at 13. Newman emphasizes young Itzhak's emotional connection to music: he sees rainbows of colors, imagines the personalities of the pieces, and becomes the melodies. While lingering paralysis means that he always performs sitting rather than standing, his disabilities do not prevent him from achieving his musical goals. Halpin's watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations clarify and extend the text by including many vivid details in the settings. She also incorporates musical notation (from Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto) throughout, which lends a magical feel to the art. Appended with generous back matter, this is a perfect introduction to this violin virtuoso.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"The Perlmans' tiny apartment seemed ordinary.... Yet a little kitchen radio transformed this simple home." More significantly, this particular radio transformed the world by inspiring young Itzhak Perlman, renowned violinist and beloved public figure. Newman conducts readers through Perlman's childhood in Tel Aviv, revealing his resilience in the face of obstacles, including, at age four, a bout of polio that left him reliant on crutches or braces. "Running around the block, riding a bicycle, jumping off a diving board--all these ordinary things Itzhak would never be able to do. But Itzhak... knew the melody inside him gave him a different gift." After growing serious about the violin, the boy performs at age six and solos by age 10. Newman's appealing story culminates with the teenage Perlman's life-changing 1958 performance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Halpin's colorful illustrations of a young Perlman, ribboned by swirling staves of musical scores, reflect his vivid inner world and warm-hearted life. Includes a timeline, notes, and bibliography. Ages 4--8. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4--This appealing picture book biography concentrates on the childhood of violinist Itzhak Perlman. Born to Polish Jewish parents living in Palestine in 1945, Perlman first heard music from a radio in his family's small apartment. He began studying the violin at age five and became a worldwide sensation after appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1958. Dismissed by some people as a novelty act, Perlman accepted a scholarship to Juilliard to continue his training, ultimately resulting in an illustrious performing and teaching career, winning 16 Grammys and four Emmys. Detailed back matter includes author and illustrator notes, a time line, and an extensive bibliography, and fills in details about the virtuoso's life. Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations, finished digitally, show bars of music swirling around Perlman to demonstrate how completely sound is woven into his existence. VERDICT Newman's text paired with Halpin's effective illustrations and design offers an intriguing glimpse into the life of this musician and advocate.--Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Newman recounts the childhood of renowned Israeli American violinist and polio survivor Itzhak Perlman. In his family's tiny Tel Aviv apartment, the "graceful classical symphonies" and "lively klezmer folk tunes" pouring from the radio enchanted Itzhak; at 3, he begged for a violin. But at 4, polio left him paralyzed. Though "other four-year-olds might have given up," a "steady melody played inside Itzhak," spurring him to relearn everyday tasks. But his legs remained paralyzed, requiring him to walk with forearm crutches and play his violin seated. Undaunted, he made the "extraordinary choice" of being neither sad nor angry; barriers, such as stairs, were "ordinary things Itzhak just had to get used to." After joining Israeli orchestras at 6 and playing solos at 10, he performed on The Ed Sullivan Show in New York at 13 despite knowing little English. The upbeat text, interspersed with quotes from the adult Perlman, amplifies his resilience and passion. But Halpin's vibrant illustrations take center stage. Bars of Bach and Mendelssohn adorn the pages, bursts of red, yellow, blue, and green reflecting the musical "rainbow" in Itzhak's mind; tender facial expressions convey Itzhak's passion and his family's love. An author's note mentions Perlman's advocacy for people with disabilities (jarringly and anachronistically referred to as "the handicapped" and "wheelchair-bound"); a timeline charts Perlman's extensive career. Most characters, including Itzhak, present white. An eye-catching tale of music and perseverance. (illustrator's note, notes, links, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
