Summer Reading can include books about music!

Several writers have weighed in on keeping young minds in books for a part of the summer. Here's one such list that I found impressive.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/opinion/05kristof.html?em&emc=eta1

If you want to interest children in the possibilities that music has to offer, try a few of these books, available as soon as I return them to the main branch of the Kanawha County Public Library in Charleston.

Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin by Lloyd Moss JE
This book is partly about families of instruments and partly about counting the number of players in musical ensembles. We all know the words solo, duet, trio, and quartet, but can we count to ten in "ensemble"?

"...It's music that we all adore, It's what we go to concerts for." (Moss)

Also, wordless readers can delight in watching the sub-plot of the two cats who appear on every spread of opened pages and the mouse they chase. When the oboist brings her dog, the sub-plot really gets into a big chase. See how it ends!

The Musical Life of Gustav Mole by Michael Twinn JE
What a whirlwind life story of a little mole, Gustav, who grows up in a musical family. From birth he is introduced to music. My favorite part is when he wants to sell his instrument at the music store because the object of his affection does not seem to respond, even when he composes for her.

There is a guest appearance by the Famous Frogharmonic who appear to be quite a serious performing orchestra.

This delightful story came out in audio cassette as well as book form, so I'm anxious to hear the audio that goes with these delightful illustrations by Kathyrn Meyrick.

These are only a few of the books that are on my musical summer reading list...more later!