50 books like A Child's Introduction to the Orchestra

Mo Williams has hit all the right notes in this lushly illustrated book for young readers. How does one grow up to be a classical musician? Well… one beautiful moment leads to another…and another…and another.

Just as in this book, one magical experience in my young life changed everything. Because my 4th grade teacher took our class to see the original Disney Fantasia film, I heard, for the first time, the sound of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Shadows of violin bows danced across the panoramic movie screen as the musicians, conducted by Leopold Stokowski, performed Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Because of how that moment sounded and felt, I found my calling ̶ the violin. That’s how it happens. One precious musical moment leads to another, to places you never dreamed you would go.

I remember what it was like to be a music student. Like the boy in this book, I sometimes wanted to crumple up my music into a tiny ball and throw it to the floor. Can you relate?

In Allegro, the author quickly gets to the heart of why we practice our instruments. Gorgeous illustrations remind us ̶ the dots on a musical page are merely a tool to transport us to magical places.

A side push-button panel gives us refreshing snippets of 11 classical musical masterpieces. The music is pleasantly in tune, unlike other books with sound buttons I have come across.

I also love the end pages. They are chock full of tidbits about the amazing composers who wrote the music featured in the book.

Not only is Itzhak Perlman considered to be one of the world’s best violinists, he’s also a powerful role model for overcoming adversity.

Growing up, when I listened to Itzhak Perlman’s recordings, I didn’t know that as a young boy, he suffered from polio. So, when I saw him perform for the first time, I didn’t expect to see him enter the stage in a wheelchair. As I marveled at the silvery tone of his violin, I wondered how he navigated through concert halls designed without the physically disabled in mind.

What I love most about this book is that it drives home an important point. Itzhak’s fiery passion for the violin has never been compromised by his disability.

The author and illustrator's notes explain the importance of the changes Itzhak has made to the field of classical music. In Itzhak’s own words, he explains how and why he has… show more.

Listen to the Birds is part of the series An Introduction to Classical Music. Author Ana Gerhard chooses a different theme for each book and then puts together a collection of songs by various composers which is related to that theme. What a great idea! The included CD only gives you excerpts from the pieces, but that is probably because it is meant as an “intro” to classical music for a younger audience with a shorter attention span. I would recommend despite this downside, since further listening can always be done separately from the book if the readers are interested to hear more.

Yo-Yo Ma has always been such a role model and inspiration for me. I passionately believe that music is a unifying force, bridging differences. This picture book provides a lens into Yo-Yo Ma’s legacy, passion, and heart in a poetic and illustrative manner. I read this book to a kindergarten class and they were drawn into the story and even requested to listen and watch some of his performances.

This inspiring picture book explores and celebrates Selena’s life while underscoring the struggles she overcame in both her personal life and the music industry. It is often hard to find books with representation, but this story invites all children to follow their dreams. I gave this book to my friend’s sister who truly became empowered by López’s writing and Selena’s story and ultimately told me how she wants to learn how to sing because of her. Representation matters!

The Magic Flute is my absolute favorite opera, and I remember the countless hours I spent listening to songs on CDs. For my birthday one year, my parents gave me a movie of a live performance of The Magic Flute by the Metropolitan Opera, and I watched the movie at least 10 times. Thus, when I found this book on the bookshelf of my library, I knew I had to sit down and read it. I became immersed in the book, following along with Prince Tamino and his journey while listening to the excerpts of the opera recorded in the pages. The tale captivates the readers and introduces them to the world of music. 

As a musician, I hear everyday sounds as music: the tritone intervals of an ambulance, the rhythm of coffee dripping, bird calls, the fluctuation of laughter, etc. This picture book follows Lenny, a composer, who stops and listens to sounds of daily life which gives him inspiration for his own compositions. This picture book reveals how music is truly the sound of life.

I included this picture book because it was one of my daughter’s favorites. Through Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, the book introduces orchestral concepts such as “concertmaster,” “pitch,” and “dynamics” and teaches readers about the various sections that make up an orchestra. Newer books like How to Build an Orchestra by Mary Auld and illustrated by Elisa Paganelli, also do a wonderful and comprehensive job introducing all things orchestra-related, but what my daughter loved about Welcome to the Symphony was the button panel on the side of the book. With a push of a button, she could listen to the sound of different instruments playing snippets from Beethoven’s Fifth. Pair Welcome to the Symphony with classical music pieces like Benjamin Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra or Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf for additional fun identifying musical instruments!

Music and books are the great loves in our family—my teenage son has been in rock bands since he was a kid.

I love seeing our interests meet in uplifting stories like this one. This inspiring picture book tells the story of young Ada, who lives on a landfill in Paraguay with limited opportunities in life… until Favio Chávez comes to her community, bringing instruments and offering music lessons to the youth.

Without enough instruments, they innovate and use materials found in the landfill to create violins, flutes, and guitars. Soon, the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay is born… and ventures around the world to perform!

This is a heart-swelling book that celebrates ingenuity and following your dreams.