Such a great book. Great addition to any biography collection ( )

"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones." -John Cage

Rogers takes a brilliant tack, here, asking "What if..." and "If..." instead of presenting a straightforward chronological bio of the composer. In this way, she relates many of Cage's famous quirks, like putting erasers and bolts and screws inside a piano to make it sound like "a whole orchestra." Ultimately, though, "to be like John Cage, the only thing you have to do...is listen."

Il Sung Na represents sound on the page brilliantly as well, in different shapes and colors.
See also: The Noisy Paint Box; Song in the City

Back matter includes an author's note, quotation sources, illustrator's note, and selected sources. The endpapers show illustrations of sounds. ( )