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You want your kids to learn more about classical music? These 11 great books and series will help.<\/p>\n
1-An Introduction to Classical Music series<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Listen to the Birds: An Introduction to Classical Music, Simply Fantastic: An Introduction to Classical Music <\/em>and Amazing Water: An Introduction to Classical Music<\/em><\/p>\n By Ana Gerhard (author), various illustrators<\/p>\n For various ages; CDs included<\/p>\n Published by The Secret Mountain, 48 to 68 pages, hardcover<\/p>\n This award-winning series introduces kids to classical music thematically, using pieces evocative of birds, of fairytale creatures, or of water, with two more books planned in the series. The beautiful illustrations will enchant younger children, but this isn\u2019t a learn-to-read series; the small print and advanced vocabulary will require a more advanced reader to take younger children through the text.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2-Welcome to the Symphony: A Musical Exploration of the Orchestra Using Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n by Carolyn Sloan (Author), James Williamson (Illustrator)<\/p>\n Ages 2-6; sound book<\/p>\n Published by Workman Publishing Company, hardcover, 32 pages<\/p>\n With 19 sound buttons featuring familiar sounds from the string section tuning to the into to Beethoven\u2019s Fifth, the mice conversing in this book will guide your little one through everything she might find at a symphony, from concert etiquette to harmony and tempo.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3-For Kids series<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Beethoven for Kids: His Life and Music with 21 Activities<\/em> and Verdi for Kids: His Life and Music with 21 by Helen Bauer (Author)<\/p>\n Ages 9-13<\/p>\n Published by Chicago Review Press, paperback, 144 pages<\/p>\n These comprehensive tomes include all kinds of historical and musical context that brings the biographical details to life. Activities include everything from crafts and games to perceptive musical listening and even composition exercises that anyone can do. Beethoven and Verdi are the only classical editions so far, but the series includes a number of offerings with figures from art, history, and science.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4-Do Re Mi: If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido D’Arezzo<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n by Susan Roth (author\/illustrator)<\/p>\n Ages 5-10<\/p>\n Published by HMH Books for Young Readers, hardcover, 40 pages<\/p>\n Surprisingly informative and yet highly accessible, this beautifully-illustrated story explores the story of Guido D\u2019Arezzo, the father of Western musical notation, in an engaging way and using simple language, and even includes a glossary of musical terms and a bibliography.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5-Maestro Classics\u2019 Stories in Music series<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Peter the Wolf, The Nutcracker, The Story of Swan Lake, Carnival of the Animals, My Name is Handel: The Story of Water Music, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, The Tortoise and the Hare, Merry Pranks of Master Till, Casey at the Bat, The Sorcerer\u2019s Apprentice, The Soldier\u2019s Tale <\/em>and Juanita the Spanish Lobster<\/em><\/p>\n by various authors, illustrators, and narrators; The London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Stephen Simon (musicians)<\/p>\n For various ages; CDs included<\/p>\n Released by Maestro Classics, soft cover, 24 pages<\/p>\n These CD\/activity book combos cover beloved stories from the classical music canon as well as from children\u2019s literature. Each story features narration and music on disc, while the book portion includes additional information, illustrations, text and activities like word scrambles and match the instrument to the sound.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 6-Can You Hear It?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n by William Lach (author)<\/p>\n Ages 6-12; CD included<\/p>\n Published by Harry N. Abrams, hardcover, 40 pages<\/p>\n Produced in association with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this book encourages active listening by prompting listeners to identify certain instruments and the sounds they evoke in pieces like \u201cFlight of the Bumblebee\u201d or The Four Seasons<\/em>, paired with images of iconic works from the museum\u2019s collection.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 7-Those Amazing Musical Instruments!: Your Guide to the Orchestra Through Sounds and Stories <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n by Genevieve Helsby (author), Marin Alsop (contributor)<\/p>\n Ages 9-12; CD-ROM included<\/p>\n Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, hardcover, 176 pages<\/p>\n With an interesting, dynamic layout, this comprehensive guide to the instruments of the symphony orchestra features tips and commentary from legendary conductor Marin Alsop, a dictionary of terms, and plenty of did-you-know facts. However, the CD included here is in fact an interactive CD-ROM \u2014 which might<\/em> seduce a tech-savvy kid, if your computer still has a CD drive, but the integration between computer and book is still somewhat awkward.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 8-Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Composers series <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bach, The Beatles, Beethoven, Bernstein, Brahms, Chopin, Copland, Ellington, Gershwin, Handel, Mozart, Sousa, Stravinsky <\/em>and Tchaikovsky<\/em><\/p>\n by Mike Vezina (author\/illustrator)<\/p>\n Ages 6+<\/p>\n Published by Childrens Pr, paperback, 32 pages<\/p>\n These award-winning short-and-sweet books are perfect to introduce kids of various ages to their favourite composer, or many composers! Cartoon jokes illustrate pages of biographical facts, and a variety of composers and styles are covered, from Bach to the Beatles.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 9-Story of the Orchestra: Listen While You Learn About the Instruments, the Music and the Composers Who Wrote the Music!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n by Robert Levine\u00a0 (Author), Meredith Hamilton (Illustrator)<\/p>\n Ages 8-13; CD included<\/p>\n Published by Black Dog & Leventhal, hardcover, 96 pages<\/p>\n An accessible, illustrated book that talks about both the instruments that make up the orchestra as well as some of the most famous composers and the eras in which they lived and worked, this book is completed by a 41-track CD full of musical examples.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 10-My First Classical Music Book<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n by Genevieve Helsby (Author)<\/p>\n Ages 5-7; CD included<\/p>\n Published by Naxos Books, hardcover, 68 pages<\/p>\n A surprising amount of information is covered in a book aimed at younger readers; little ones will learn about composers from Handel and Brahms to Stravinsky and John Adams, and even get an introduction to minimalism \u2014 a subgenre that even many grown-ups struggle with!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 11-Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n by Lloyd Moss (Author), Marjorie Priceman (Illustrator)<\/p>\n Ages 4-8<\/p>\n Published by Simon & Schuster, hardcover or soft cover, 32 pages<\/p>\n While this title is not \u201ceducational\u201d in the way of other titles on this list, it is a Caldecott Honor Book and a crowd favourite since its original publication in 1995. Poetic text and beautiful, fun illustrations make for a book that will familiarize kids with the sounds, feelings, and ideas of an evening at the symphony.<\/p>\n ALSO READ:<\/strong><\/p>\n 11 Canadian Novels that Classical Music Lovers Should Read<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/montreal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/11\/Ana-Gerhard-series.jpg\")
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