Play, Mozart, Play #24
Peter Sis

Sis, Peter. (2006). Play, mozart, play! Greenwillow

Grade Level: K-2

Awards: New York Time Best Illustrated Book; Bologna-Ragazzi Award

Genre: Biography

Content Area: Music

Standards: Social Studies: Integrate, connect, and apply social studies into other subject areas in everyday life. (Composers)

Access Features: Biography page

Illustrations: Black line and watercolors were used to prepare the full-color art.

Author’s Credibility: There was no information about the author in the book.

Tone: Partisan

Voice:

Text Structure: Simple and easy to read text; not much text on a page

Summary: Mozart never attended school because his father did not let him go. Since his father was a well-respected musician, he taught Mozart and his sister music at home. Mozart began playing the piano at five. He did not get a chance to play with other children because he had to practice, practice, and play!

Use: I would use this book to point out the different places in the book and talk about them. Let the children find the places on the map.

Response: This is a simple book to introduce children to music. I do think music is important, but not so much to the point that a person is deprived of his childhood. Play is important for children.