The four seasons of the pipa

Patrick Lacoursière

Book - 2022

"On a cold winter night, a young girl dreams of visiting her faraway grandfather in Kunming, a magical place in China known as the eternal city of spring. As gusts of snow blow outside her window, the gentle sound of her mother plucking the pipa in the family room wraps around her like a warm blanket. The intricately illustrated story is accompanied by 11 stirring instrumental performances by world-renowned pipa master, Liu Fang. With roots that reach back to the Qin Dynasty, the pipa's repertoire draws from a wellspring of ancient poetry and folklore, summoning themes of natural splendor that resonate across generations. Notes on the origin of the pipa and each composition appear at the end of the book along with a CD and digital... download code" --

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jE/Lacoursi
0 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room jE/Lacoursi Due Apr 14, 2024
Subjects
Genres
Children's stories
Picture books
Published
[Montréal] : The Secret Mountain [2022]
Language
English
French
Main Author
Patrick Lacoursière (author)
Other Authors
Josée Bisaillon (illustrator), Fang Liu, 1974- (performer)
Item Description
"Musical picture book" -- cover
Includes CD with 11 songs from the Chinese classical and folk repertoire.
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 21 cm + 1 audio disc (4 3/4 in.)
ISBN
9782898360152
Contents unavailable.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

A Chinese child lies in bed thinking about their upcoming visit to see Grandfather. Less of a story and more of a dreamlike meditation in the moments before falling asleep, this picture book centers on a young narrator who imagines leaving the cold of winter to visit Kunming, China, the "eternal city of spring." Meanwhile, Mother plays the pipa, a traditional Chinese instrument with four strings, each representing one of the seasons. Fantastic images emphasizing the natural world, with delicate lines and soft but colorful hues, accompany this journey of the mind but are also balanced by warm scenes such as the grandfather and grandchild strolling through the flower and bird market and slurping noodle soup. Each spread bears a single poetic sentence describing the scene. The book is accompanied by an album of pipa music on CD (and downloadable) from musician Liu Fang; reading and listening simultaneously transforms what would otherwise be light content into a lovely multisensory experience. While the music plays, each page can be savored at length, especially the final, dreamy scene of the child asleep in a bed amid trees and giant flowers, with Mother playing the pipa and Grandfather sitting by the child's feet. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An immersive experience for those willing to look, listen, and dream. (information on the pipa, the accompanying music, and Fang) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.