Review:
Olivier Messiaen, a famous French composer, who was captured by the Germans during World War Ⅱ and taken to a prison camp. Despite the poor conditions, he composed a now-famous music to encourage all the prisoners, full of hope.
Critique:
This is a biography because it is rich in factual content and portrays a historical period.
The illustration were created with charcoal and pastel on paper.
Comments on use:
Introducing a famous composer Olivier Messiaen.
Inspiring children to believe in hope.
Age appropriateness:
middle school

Genre: Historical Fiction and Biography
Media: Pencil, Pastels
Use: Continuous read aloud that I use over the span of 3 to 4 days when introducing some of the historical realities of German prison camps.
Critique: This is a beautiful story that teaches its reader that sometimes we overlook the things that are most important in our lives, that bring us the most joy, such as music. It is border line historical fiction though as it describes the life of the French composer Olivier Messiaen and how his life is transformed by his desire for music in his life even during WW2. I can't say that all of this information on his biography would be completely accurate as the intended audience is most certainly younger. ( )

Get for LES. Picture books about a piece of music composed in a concentration camp. ( )