Meet the Orchestra

Rating:
Summary: unfortunate grammar
Review: I am a music teacher and at first reading I was very impressed until I reached the page where the book stated that the musicians were "coming on the stage" instead of "coming onto the stage". This error is grave enough that I decided not to buy multiple copies as student incentives. Defacing books is generally a bad idea, but I plan to cross out and write over the offending error before giving it to my nephew.

Rating:
Summary: unfortunate grammar
Review: I am a music teacher and at first reading I was very impressed until I reached the page where the book stated that the musicians were "coming on the stage" instead of "coming onto the stage". This error is grave enough that I decided not to buy multiple copies as student incentives. Defacing books is generally a bad idea, but I plan to cross out and write over the offending error before giving it to my nephew.

Rating:
Summary: Instruments Galore.....
Review: Meet the orchestra and all the fabulous instruments that come together to make such wonderful sounds, from the strings that are bowed or plucked, to the woodwinds and brass instruments that you blow air into, to the percussion section where instruments are "beaten, banged, dinged, and pinged." Author Ann Hayes takes you on a marvelous and intriguing journey through the orchestra, describing each section, instrument, and sound in simple, engaging and evocative language. Youngsters will almost be able to hear the low notes of the string bass moan and groan, the sadness of saying good-bye to someone you love when the oboe is played, flags flying and soldiers marching with the notes of the trumpet, and the flash of lightning when the cymbals crash. Unfortunately, Karen Thompson's illustrations are not equal to the text and are a bit dull and uninspired as you see page after page of expressionless animals, dressed in concert garb, holding instruments. Perfect for preschoolers, Meet The Orchestra is a lovely and gentle, read aloud introduction to musical instruments and their sounds the whole family can share together, and should peak the interest of budding little musicians everywhere.

Rating:
Summary: Great Introduction To Orchestral Instruments
Review: My daughters really like this book. They love the different animals and instruments. I love the words and descriptions they use while talking about what each instrument does and sounds like. I only wish they had a cassette tape that went along with it to introduce the sounds of the instruments as well.

Rating:
Summary: Great Introduction To Orchestral Instruments
Review: My twin sons cherished this book from the time they were two years old. We have gone through six paperback copies (each insisted on having his own); my boys shared it with everyone they saw, and they even slept with it! They love the clever and colorful pictures, and the short verses describing each instrument capture each instruments' special sound and qualities better than any other children's book I have seen. I played my kids symphonic recordings and a videotape (Bernstein conducting Beethoven's 9th) along with this book, and at age three they could easily identify all of the instruments by sight and sound.