Description
This book-and-CD package is an ideal way to introduce children to classical music. A new retelling of Prokofiev's musical fairy tale is accompanied by a CD with music performed by the Cincinnati Pops and word-for-word narration by Peter A. Thomas. Full color.
THERE IS NO better way to introduce children to classical music than with Prokofiev's musical fairy tale of the little boy (played by all the strings of the orchestra) who, with the help of a bird (played by the flute), outsmarted the big, bad wolf (played by the French horns). And now with this book and CD package, children can look and listen all at the same time. A new retelling by Janet Schulman follows the basic story, but with a kinder ending for both the big bad wolf and the argumentative duck. Peter Malone's paintings have the luminous quality of old Russian masters. The CD, with music performed by the Cincinnati Pops and word-for-word narration by Peter A. Thomas, was made exclusively for this book and CD package.
Review:
A new treatment of Prokofiev's symphonic folktale in which each character is represented by a different orchestral instrument. Set in Russia, the familiar story presents a boy who, to save his animal friends from a wolf, disobeys grandfather's warnings. From his vantage point in a tree, and with the help of a teasing, distracting bird, Peter fearlessly lassoes the wolf by the tail. This new edition boasts pleasing new illustrations that are at once original and reminiscent of highly decorative Russian art, brightly colored and meticulously detailed. Each character with designated orchestral instrument is graphically introduced at the beginning. Problems arise with the brief, well-known text that has always been at the service of the symphonic movements. Here Prokofiev's original ending has been changed and softened so that the duck, which has been swallowed whole by the wolf, escapes. There is ample precedent for tinkering with Prokofiev's masterwork, but this ending may jar those for whom the final melancholy notes of the oboe, representing the trapped duck, are the poignant, seminal moment in the story. (CD included) (Picture book. 5-9) (Kirkus Reviews)
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