Some composers (like Vivaldi and Bach) have many children’s books written about them. Others not so much. For those of you looking to introduce your children to less well known composers, here are two book recommendations, the first on the work of Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) and the other on Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992).
The Carnival of the Animals by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Mary GrandPré (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2010)
Rather than a biography, this is a book of poems written about each piece in Saint-Saëns’s humorous musical suite, The Carnival of the Animals. The poems are descriptive, full of rhythm and rhyme. The illustrations are playful and a bit cartoonish. The book comes with an excellent CD of the poems read by the author followed by music with full orchestra. A Note to Parents and Teachers (by Judith Bachleitner, Head of the Music Department, Rudolf Steiner School, New York City) includes a brief bio of Saint-Saëns, a description of the suite, and tips for teaching it to kids. This book and CD combo is a lot of fun. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Music for the End of Time by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Beth Peck (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2005)
This picture book tells the true story of a French composer in a German POW camp, where the cry of a nightingale makes him miss writing music. A soldier gives Messiaen a place to compose every morning and he writes a piece of music (Quartet for the End of Time), which is performed on January 15, 1941 before 5000 prisoners. This story about the power of music is accompanied by pastel illustrations and ends with a one-page author’s note providing more info. No CD is included so you’ll have to find the music online. Recommended for ages 9-12.