Most of the picture books I review on this blog I enjoyed reading… Today I have the pleasure of including one I couldn’t stand! Maybe it will appeal to you or maybe the others will inspire you to learn more about the famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
Sebastian: A Book About Bach by Jeanette Winter (Browndeer Press, 1999)
Here’s a picture book in Jeanette Winter’s signature style of bold illustrations with coloured page borders. It starts with Bach’s ancestors to show his musical lineage and covers how he learned to play instruments and then write his own music, as well as his large family and his work composing church music. It’s a fanciful book (birds sing at his birth and angels listen to his music) and easy to read (only a couple of sentences per page). It ends with very brief biography. Recommended for ages 5 to 8.
Becoming Bach by Tom Leonard (Roaring Brook Press, 2017)
This biographical picture book is told from Bach’s point of view, focusing on his desire to become a musician. Music was everywhere in his life and he pursued it diligently until he became a church organist. The story wraps up with him producing a great swell of music from inside his head. The illustrations swirl with musical notes. The text is brief, but the book ends with a full page biography. Recommended for ages 4 to 6.
Bach to the Rescue!!!: How a Rich Dude Who Couldn’t Sleep Inspired the Greatest Music Ever by Tom Angelberger, illustrated by Chris Eliopoulos (Harry N. Abrams, 2019)
This story is “loosely based on Albert Schweitzers account of Johann Sebastian Bach’s creation of the Goldberg Variations.” The “humorous” writing style and cartoonish illustrations were not for me. (To be honest, I find this type of book obnoxious!) It ends with a brief author’s note, including a link to hear the music and download the sheet music. Recommended for ages 5 to 7.