Publishers Weekly
07/05/2021
Employing the refrain “feet planted on the soil of one nation,/ eyes gazing at the shores of another,” Ho pens a time-travelling free verse profile of Parisian-born, Chinese American cellist Yo-Yo Ma, former child prodigy and current philanthropist, multi–Grammy Award winner, and a 2011 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Using Ma’s Bach Project as framework—specifically 2019 performances along the U.S.-Mexico border opposing anti-immigrant rhetoric—Ho surveys Ma’s background and accolades, as well as the multicultural origins of his cello: “Pieces united in one instrument,/ one language.” Digital art by Martinez has a softly rounded, approachable feel, depicting emotion-filled people of differing abilities, religions, sizes, and skin tones in a mellow palette. An ambitious portrait of a storied humanitarian with a clear message of advocacy. Back matter features more information on the figure and his music, and an author’s note. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
By examining the life of Ma, whose story resonates with courage, persistence, and unity, Ho inspires readers to break barriers of their own.” — Horn Book (starred review)
“A beautiful tribute to an award-winning musician with a heart much larger than the number of albums he has created and accolades he has garnered.” — New York Journal of Books
“Everyone can benefit from Ho’s message of music bringing calm and peace to the world.” — Booklist
“Hopeful and lovely.” — Kirkus Reviews
“An ambitious portrait of a storied humanitarian with a clear message of advocacy.” — Publishers Weekly
Horn Book (starred review)
By examining the life of Ma, whose story resonates with courage, persistence, and unity, Ho inspires readers to break barriers of their own.
New York Journal of Books
A beautiful tribute to an award-winning musician with a heart much larger than the number of albums he has created and accolades he has garnered.
Booklist
Everyone can benefit from Ho’s message of music bringing calm and peace to the world.”
Booklist
Everyone can benefit from Ho’s message of music bringing calm and peace to the world.”
Kirkus Reviews
2021-07-27
Yo-Yo Ma performed Bach’s cello suites at the U.S.–Mexico border in Laredo, Texas, in 2019.
Through poetic and reverent language, Ho uses this performance as a keyhole to introduce readers to Ma’s impressive career, with a focus on how he “challenges convention and weaves worlds together” through music. Extensive backmatter gives informative context for such global initiatives, such as the Silk Road Ensemble, which has brought together strangers from different cultures to play music, and the Bach Project, which the titular concert was part of. Ho extends the theme of global unity when she describes Petunia, his beloved cello, which embodies materials from Italy, Brazil, Mongolia, India, and West Africa. Martinez’s gentle illustrations match Ho’s inspired tone with sweeping, soft strokes in welcoming, warm tones. A visual throughline of music notes appears on almost every page, conveying the magic that music, even while unseen, can be felt by all. The wraparound cover illustration and final double-page spread both depict lines of adults and children of various ages and racial presentations holding hands across the border, beautifully underscoring the book’s theme of unity through music. Elementary school teachers and parents of school-age children searching for examples of people connecting across borders and differences will delight in this sweet introduction—an excellent companion to Mitali Perkins and Sara Palacios’ Between Us and Abuela (2019). (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Hopeful and lovely. (resources, author’s note) (Informational picture book. 5-8)
