Musical Picture Book Story Ana Gerhard Illustrations Marie Lafrance Music I Musici de Montréal Narration Colm Feore
Travel through time following a charming little mouse called Minim who loves cheese and music. He has just spent an amazing summer in the country with his cousin Maxim. The meals have been fabulous, followed by delightful concerts with gifted musicians who are there to play for the prince and his guests. Autumn is now upon them, and something has gone awry. The conductor has noticed that the members of the orchestra have grown tired and dearly miss their families. How shall he convey to the prince that the vacation has gone on for far too long? Only a brilliant composer like Joseph Haydn could devise such a plan!
In addition to an illustrated story and introductory notes on the composer, the book is accompanied by a CD featuring recordings of the narrated story and the performance of the composition Adagio Finale from the “Farewell” Symphony.
Pub Date: 2021 Ages: 5 to 9 / Grades 1 to 5 Keywords: Classical Music / History / Mouse / Spring
Author / Performers Ana Gerhard studied as a concert pianist at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City and is a renowned music educator. In addition to writing the Little Stories of Great Composers series, she is a four-time recipient of the Parents’ Choice Award for Little Creatures, Listen to the Birds, Simply Fantastic, and Amazing Water. I Musici de Montréal is a Canadian chamber orchestra founded in 1984 by cellist and conductor Yuli Turovsky. This permanent collective of 15 musicians has a broad repertoire that ranges from baroque to contemporary music.
Colm Feore achieved fame as one of Canada’s premiere stage actors, playing virtually all of Shakespeare’s leading men over numerous seasons of the Stratford Festival. While he continues his work on stage, he also frequently appears on television and film. He is particularly well-known for his supporting roles in notable Hollywood productions Chicago, Thor, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, House of Cards and The Umbrella Academy.
Illustrator Marie Lafrance studied graphic arts, etching, and worked as a printmaker before going on to illustrate children’s books. Over her career she’s earned three nominations for the Governor General’s Literary Award, and she recently received the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award for A Hen for Izzy Pippik.