This nonfiction book concentrates on the last hundred years, especially recent technological advances, and our understanding of the physics and psychology of creating, appreciating, preserving and reproducing sounds and music. Lavishly illustrated in soft pastels and a variety of type sizes, it is nicely laid out for reading and browsing. Eighteen of the nineteen two-page chapters end with a suggested playlist of three easily-found pieces of music to reinforce the chapter concepts. Although a short children’s book, I spent a couple of pleasant hours listening to the music links between the chapters. The text wavers between vocabulary and concepts appropriate to the grade 3-7 audience the publisher recommends and the higher grades I recommend. The book has a timeline, glossary, and selected sources which reinforce the text, and an index. The Canadian authors also happily pepper the book with Canadian references. Recommended for lovers of music, history, and science.
Reviewed by Paul Laverdure
Edited by Thien Sa Hoang