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Man With The Violin, The (2013)

by Kathy Stinson(Favorite Author)

4.3 of 5 Votes: 4

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Annick Press

review 1: In this 2013 picture book publication about a 2007 event, we learn about the day when the violinist Joshua Bell played in a Washington DC subway. The author, Kathy Stinson has written a charming historical fiction book about a boy named Dylan who notices the violinist and stops to enjoy the music. His mom did not have time to stop long for the beautiful yet sad music that fills the boy with awe. Later in the day, when they return home, Dylan hears the same violin music from the radio. He soars with the sounds as his mother watches and listens with amazement. They finally listen together. In the afterward, the author gives biographical information on Joshua Bell. We learn that Bell did play on his priceless Stradivarius in L'Enfant Plaza Station in Washington DC on January ... more12, 2007. A newspaper reporter wanted to see what would happen if one of the best violinists in the world performed dressed as an ordinary person in the subway. Bell played for under one hour and earned $32.17 from the people who heard him that day. A couple of commuters did recognize him and stayed to listen but most of the listeners were children! Not only is this book written in an informative manner with an engaging plot, the soft musical illustrations by European artist Dusan Petricic heighten the joy of listening to music. With a postscript written by Joshua Bell, children can be introduced to a real happening in picture book form. This is a wonderful book!
review 2: A young boy wants to stop to listen to a world-renowned violinist in disguise who is playing in the subway, but his mother hurries him along. Only later, when they learn that they passed a world-class musician does the boy's mother acknowledge she was in error. The book is based on an experiment in which Joshua Bell took his Stradivarius to play in a Washington DC underground station. Only seven stopped to listen.In an afterward, Joshua Bell (who had been a child prodigy) notes: "Music requires imagination and curiosity--two things that children have aplenty--and I believe the world would be a better place if every child's innate appreciation for music were fostered both in school and at home." I wish it were so; our schools have moved so far from the warm embrace of the arts. Tests and technology--21st-Century Skills!--are the order of the day. less

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