Scan barcode
annabannana's review against another edition
4.0
What a wonderful, sweet book this is! I adored it!
I would personally give it 5 stars, but C didn't seem to love it as much as I did. Perhaps it is one that will mean more to him when he gets a little older?
I would personally give it 5 stars, but C didn't seem to love it as much as I did. Perhaps it is one that will mean more to him when he gets a little older?
cimorene1558's review against another edition
3.0
A little girl learning to play the violin is helped by the memory of her grandfather's playing when performing at a recital. I like this, but as with a lot of the Canadian children's books I'm reading this year, I am forced to wonder who will read it, and what they will get out of it, and the answer seems sadly likely to be few, to the first, but hopefully a lot to the second.
kelleemoye's review against another edition
4.0
Review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=5126
I’m so glad that Carrie Gelson recommended this one to me. This book is about family, memories, music, and dreams. Hana Hashimoto is influenced by her grandfather’s violin playing when she visited him in Japan. So much that although she has only had 3 lessons on the violin, she enters her school’s talent show. Although her brother doesn’t believe she will succeed, little Hana says she is going to play anyways. The ending of the book is perfection, and I just love our protagonist so much for her creativity and perseverance.
I’m so glad that Carrie Gelson recommended this one to me. This book is about family, memories, music, and dreams. Hana Hashimoto is influenced by her grandfather’s violin playing when she visited him in Japan. So much that although she has only had 3 lessons on the violin, she enters her school’s talent show. Although her brother doesn’t believe she will succeed, little Hana says she is going to play anyways. The ending of the book is perfection, and I just love our protagonist so much for her creativity and perseverance.
yabetsy's review against another edition
4.0
An intergenerational, multicultural story of a young girl whose memory of going to sleep at night listening to her grandfather playing to the violin on a visit to Japan, inspires her, upon returning home, to learn how to play the instrument herself (earning her some not-very-subtle chiding from her big brothers.) When she enters the school's talent show she ends up getting moral support from a friend, as well as her grandfather, who she knows would be pulling for her, she wins over her brothers with a unique performance, in this charmingly illustrated picture book.
sasha_in_a_box's review against another edition
5.0
I seriously admire Hana, the young protagonist of this book. She has only had 3 violin lessons with her grandfather, and she is ready to demonstrate her skill at a school talent show! Her brothers are her personal Statler and Waldorf who tell her that she doesn't have the titular talent, and neither does she know what she's doing it all... and Hana isn't exactly confident herself. But what she produces on stage is something quite interesting.
It's such a pretty book, with illustrations that perfectly convey emotion: peace, nervousness, playfulness. And the grandfather parts are very cute. Lovely book!
It's such a pretty book, with illustrations that perfectly convey emotion: peace, nervousness, playfulness. And the grandfather parts are very cute. Lovely book!
crystal_reading's review against another edition
5.0
This book made me smile so much. Hana has started taking violin lessons after spending time with her grandfather in Japan who plays. Now she feels she is ready to be in a talent show. Her brothers are not so sure since she has only had three lessons. She has a surprise for them though as she practices sound effects with her violin and shows them off. This is a wonderful book to use with primary children particularly in a music class.
pwbalto's review against another edition
5.0
"Ojiichan played every morning. From his study, the clear, bright notes would drift upstairs, through the shoji screen doors to where Hana slept on sweet-smelling tatmi mats, and coax her awake as gently as sunshine."
Hana's grandfather plays classical music, folk songs, and melodies inspired by nature. But Hana has only had three lessons, and her big brothers tell her that her performance at the school talent show is sure to be a disaster! In sprightly ink and watercolor art, we see Hana practice for her parents, for the dog, and in front of a photo of Ojiichan, until, with consummate courage, she takes the stage.
Reviewed for the Baltimore Sun, March 2015.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/maryland-family/bs-lt-paula-willey-librarian-picture-books-20150319-story.html
Hana's grandfather plays classical music, folk songs, and melodies inspired by nature. But Hana has only had three lessons, and her big brothers tell her that her performance at the school talent show is sure to be a disaster! In sprightly ink and watercolor art, we see Hana practice for her parents, for the dog, and in front of a photo of Ojiichan, until, with consummate courage, she takes the stage.
Reviewed for the Baltimore Sun, March 2015.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/maryland-family/bs-lt-paula-willey-librarian-picture-books-20150319-story.html
misspentdays's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book. Hana demonstrates sticktoitiveness and a love of family in this lovely picture book. Honoring her grandfather, an excellent musician, is more difficult than Hana anticipates, but her love of music can't be stopped by a lack of skill- or the groaning of her brothers.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful story of persistence and working hard for something you want to do.