I currently have an 8, 6, 4, and 1 year old in our home, and Mozart the Wonder Boy has been an inspiration for all of us. We’ve all been enlightened, and we have all broadened our knowledge of the life of Mozart.
This is the first book we’ve read in the Great Musicians Series, but I’m thankful we also purchased the ones on Schubert and Beethoven.
You can also find books telling the story of:
Bach
Chopin, the early years
Chopin, the later years
Tchaikovsky, the Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky, the story
Haydn
(Just making a note that you may want to pre-read Tchaikovsky’s story before handing it to young readers. I have not read these particular books on Tchaikovsky, but I know other books speak of some of his lifestyle decisions that not every family wants to address with young children.)
“To know something of how a piece of music is built will help the listener. To know something of the period in which it was composed, the stage of musical development it represents and the personality of the composer will also help him, and, in the case of an orchestral piece, knowledge of the instruments concerned will give a new interest to his listening.” (The Listener’s Guide to Music by Percy A. Scholes, pg. 9)
What do my children love most about the book? They look forward to the next piece of music that is intertwined into the story. They’ve been amazed that a young boy of six could compose the pieces provided in this book.
The book writes of Mozart’s life in story form. We gained a great understanding of his family life and the demands on him as a young and extremely talented musician. The book is broken apart into chapters, and it can easily be read over the course of a month or longer. Or, if you are like us, you read a couple chapters at a time and then put it down for a few days while you spend time listening to his music. Our ears have changed as a result of learning of Mozart and his life.
There is a CD that can be purchased alongside the book, but I have been able to find almost all the pieces on Spotify. Not only are we now listening to the pieces provided in the book, but we also have a dedicated playlist for Mozart’s piano pieces. Reading of his life in such a well told format has brought him to life in our home.
(Please note that affiliate links have been used in this post.)