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Itzhak: The Boy Who Loved the Violin

 


Written by: Tracy Newman
Illustrated by: Abigail Halpin
Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2020. Biography.

Before Itzhak Perlman became one of the world's best violinists, he was just a small boy who loved music. When he was four years-old he contracted Polio which left him crippled for life. Despite his many obstacles he never gave up on his love for the violin and music. He began studying the violin when he was five years-old. He would spend two to three hours a day practicing. During his practice he experimented with different bow techniques, bouncing his bow along the strings and seeing what kinds of sounds he could make plucking the strings. He would talk to the music and would imagine what the music would look like and what kind of personality it had. He became the music. By the age of 10 he was giving solo performances and when he was 13 he performed on the Ed Sullivan Show. After that performance "His life would never again be ordinary".

This is an inspiring story of a young man who was passionate about something he loved and who didn't let his disability keep him from sharing his passion with the world. This is a perfect introduction for anyone who wants to learn more about his life and rise to fame. The gorgeous illustrations and informative text along with the author's notes and timeline give readers a glimpse into his life. A perfect middle grade book for inspiring musicians.

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