Book Review #84

The First Notes: The Story of

Do, Re, Mi

Authors: Julie Andrews & 

                   Emma Walton Hamilton

Illustrator: Chiara Fedele

Publisher: Brown Books for Young 

                       Readers, 2022
ISBN: 978-0316265904

Reading Level: 6 to 12 Years

Genre/Theme/Style: Picture Book, Biographies, Performing Arts, Music.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

 

Why 5 Roars? This is a great book for both fans of Julie Andrews and music lovers. The artwork is perfectly appropriate for the book, and it encapsulates the feeling of a monk’s life in an uplifting style.

Critical Analysis: This is the story of Guido d’Arezzo’s development of musical notation. A monk of the Benedictine order from the Italian city-state of Arezzo, he was known for introducing a system that was easier to understand.

Appeal: This book will appeal to both younger readers and older readers that enjoy the study of music. Even younger children can learn to sing Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do along with the book.

"A charming collaboration that strikes just the right notes."―Kirkus Reviews

Connections: "Do-Re-Mi" - The Sound Of Music (1965).