Picture books are fun. You can read a book and finish it in a few minutes. You can feel like you accomplished something. You can learn things that you would not necessarily have been exposed to, because it is a “tough subject” but when it is “summarized” to be accessible to a younger crowd you can say, “OH NOW I get it…” (I am looking at you School House Rock. Okay that is a TV show, but the same concept.) But with The Music of Life I know one thing, Louis Thomas wanted to entertain, but not sure if that was enough for me.
However, this is an interesting story about how there is music in everything you see. Things in nature and things in our everyday lives. All one has to do is listen and be creative. Our hero is a composer and during a writer’s block, he learns this very lesson. It is just fun. I do not think Thomas wanted to be “deep,” but they do want you to think about the idea.
Thomas also created some delightful illustrations that adds to the story. In many ways, they tell the story more than the text does. Yet, both are needed to move the story along. The community of Lenny comes to life in busy detail, sweetly drawn, illustrations. All ages can find something to enjoy. You can adapt this to be a “What sounds do you hear” game. Or a can you find the squirrel on the page. Or what colors are on the page. Great for a group or one-on-one reading this is perfect for personal or classroom (especially a music class) library.