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Vendor
Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
Categories

LISTEN

Devon Holzwarth Shannon Stocker

How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion

A gorgeous and empowering picture book biography about Evelyn Glennie, a deaf woman, who became the first full-time solo percussionist in the world.
"No. You can't," people said.
But Evelyn knew she could. She only had to listen.

From the moment Evelyn Glennie heard her first note, music held her heart. She could play the piano by ear at age eight, the clarinet by age ten. But soon the nerves in her ears began to degenerate, and Evelyn was told that, as a deaf girl, she could never be a musician. What sounds Evelyn couldn't hear with her ears, though, she could feel resonate through her body, as if she were a drum, and the music she created as a result was extraordinary. All she had to do was listen in a way that others didn't. And soon, the world was listening too.

Shannon Stocker is an author and proud word nerd. She lives with her husband, Greg, and her children, Cassidy and Tye, in Louisville, KY, where she molds words into picture books and songs all day. Shannon currently serves as SCBWI social co-director for Louisville, a judge for Rate Your Story, and created the blog series, Pivotal Moments: inHERview, highlighting transitional life stories of female picture book authors. She is also the author of the picture book Can U Save the Day? and the 21st Century Junior Library: Together We Can: Pandemic early reader series.
Devon Holzwarth grew up in Panama with the jungle as her garden and parrots and iguanas as pets. Devon earned her BFA in 2000 from the Rhode Island School of Design, focusing on screen printing and painting. Childhood memories and her collection of vintage children's books strongly inspire her work. She currently lives in Aachen, Germany, with her husband, two kids, and beloved old hound dog.
Available products
Book

Published 2022-04-12 by Dial Books for Young Readers

Book

Published 2022-04-12 by Dial Books for Young Readers

Comments

[S]weet and educational... An intriguing, loving biography

UK: Puffin /PRH UK ; Chinese (compl.): Babel ; Japanese: Mitsumura ; Korean: Spring Garden

The life of deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie dances and swirls across the page in this vibrantly illustrated picture book biography that is perfect for elementary school readers learning about music and fascinating women... This is more than a story of overcoming discrimination due to disability - Stocker captures something about the artist's need to be herself, regardless of abilities... Lush brushstrokes, delicate character portraits, and warm colors make this a beautiful title to explore, and the ample text and sweet author's note ensure that Glennie's story will have an impact on readers... Excellent... especially for musical readers looking to feel the music and not just hear it.

This beautiful picture book biography celebrates the many ways we can listen - and the incredible creativity of this pioneering artist.

Radiant!

Engaging text [and] vibrant illustrations, which effectively use color and pattern and movement to represent sound. An author's note provides more information about this remarkable musician's work.

LISTEN is an Anna Dewdney Read Together Award Honor and a Cybils Award Finalist

Evelyn Glennie not only challenges the traditional role of a percussionist but what it means to listen to music... Lyrical text [and] expressive swirls of vibrant colors throughout evoke the sounds Evelyn's body feels and the beautiful music she creates in return.

Does a fantastic job of making sound come alive on the page... A fantastic book.

If you're interested in learning more about Evelyn Glennie, here is a link to her TED talk (with 6.2 million+ views)! Read more...

* Schneider Family Book Award Winner * * ALA Notable Children's Book * * Anna Dewdney Read Together Award Honor * * Cybils Award Finalist * * Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year * * Crystal Kite Finalist *