Mozart – The Wonder Child: A Book Review

The School of Keigley is back in session.

(And we still need a better name I think.  It just hasn’t been a priority.)

I know I’ve mentioned that we use Ambleside Online as our primary curriculum guide.

Each year we study three composers.  (One per twelve-week term.)

Last year one of our three guys was Beethoven.  (Remember London’s terrific artwork?)

And this year we kick it off with Mozart.

We listen to Mozart and we try to read a handful of books about the composer – if they’re available.

And it’s often pretty hard to locate great kid reading material about dead composers that doesn’t read as if it’s dead itself.

Enter Diane Stanley’s Mozart – The Wonder Child: A Puppet Play in Three Acts.

I stumbled across this gem at our public library.

(Yup – the Library Saga continues.  I visited the library with Mosely only and scooted through that system like a crazy person.)

I was delighted (Yes. Delighted.) when I saw this little book on the shelf written by Diane Stanley.

I already love Diane Stanley.  We read her Joan of Arc last year.  Piled on this year’s stack are her books about Shakespeare and DaVinci.

She’s just good.

Her writing is accessible, the right amount of funny, completely factual and delivered in the form of a story that makes a kid (and a grown up) want to listen.

And she illustrates her own work as well.

And it’s terrific.  Always adding to the story, never detracting.

This Mozart book is written in three stages – like a play in three acts.

And the drawings are as if the entire story is a puppet play with marionettes.

Imaginative.  Beautiful.  And the very definition of “gentle learning”.

London laughed when Mozart climbed into the empress’ lap and kissed him.  Bergen couldn’t believe someone would steal Mozart’s music.  And I learned that Mozart actually never referred to himself as “Amadeus” despite the fact that we know him with that title now.

This book – I love it.

I’m sad that I have to return it to the library.

Or maybe I don’t.

Take that Smandy.

(Oh yeah.  The only one who will pay for that crime is me.  Okay,  I’m certain I’ll return the book guys.)