That's My Piano, Sir!

 

That’s My Piano, Sir! Written by Ana Gerhard. Illustrated by Marie Lafrance. Book with CD (approx. 11 minutes). The Secret Mountain. 2020. 32 p. $16.95. Ages 7 – 9.

            Based on a real event in the life of 6-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, this story is told by Minim, a little orange-brown mouse wearing a charcoal overcoat, who loves cheese and music. The Mozart family arrives by ship to Vienna, and as they are disembarking, a couple of dock workers drop the crate/piano belonging to the Mozarts. Fortunately, it is not damaged, and when set up, Wolfgang takes out his violin, his sister Nannerl sits at the piano, and together they play Sonata for Piano and Violin KV.8, 1^st Movement. Everyone is cheered up, including Minim, whose image appears on most of the pages of the book. After actor/narrator Colm Feore (The Sum of All Fears, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, House of Cards) finishes his expressive reading, the chamber orchestra I Musici de Montréal performs Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (The Little Night Music) K.525, 4^th Movement. (I Musici de Montréal gives outstanding performances on both pieces of music). The back matter includes a few more details about Mozart. Inserted into the CD pocket is a flyer with a unique code for the digital download of the recordings. The first in a planned series, “Little Stories of Great Composers,” this book and CD are an excellent introduction to Mozart for young elementary students. 

Website: https://www.thesecretmountain.com/