T.C. Bartlett

Music doesn't require words...or has its own way of 'speaking'...and this book lets the wonder of music come to life.

A young boy is sent out of the house to head off to his music lesson with a warning—don't dilly-dally! Of course, the woods are too interesting to hurry straight through, especially with the adventure which awaits this young boy. It's a fun and amazing music lesson of an entirely different kind.

There are words in this book but only on the first and last pages. The rest is told through illustrations. At first, the world is in whites, grays and blacks, showing how mundane everything can be. But it doesn't stay that way very long. The author allows the color to shine through the moment the music starts. But that's not all that starts. There is so much fun and laughter and joy packed into this adventure that young listeners will delve right into every page. There's a wonderful twist about 2/3rds through, which adds the perfect amount of tension, too.

I have a soft spot of picture books without words, and the artwork in this one had me enjoying this one quite a bit. There are enough details and emotions to keep kids coming back time and again to discover new things as well as re-live their favorite moments. It's the kind of book that parents and 'read' with their children together (which means a great time to discuss and point and simply have even silly conversations), or it's one kids can pick up on their own.

Either way, I'm giving this one a big two thumbs up.
I received an ARC and thoroughly enjoyed diving into this adventure.… (más)

Bartlett, T.C. (1997). Tuba Lessons. Mankato, Minnesota: Creative Editions.

This story only has words on the first and last pages. It follows the journey of a boy on his way from his home to his tuba lesson. The path he takes is made up of a music staff. These five lines transform into a tree on his path, and several woodland animals emerge from it. They are all entranced by his tuba playing; his notes float on the air. When a bear appears the other animals, and the boy, are afraid. At first the bear is distressed by the tuba playing and roars his own notes loudly, but the boy’s playing eventually turns him around; he even catches the boy when he falls from the staff. By the time the boy has reached his tuba lesson, he is late, and is punished with a threat of an extra hour of practice, as though he had not just spent his entire journey practicing. This book is suitable for children ages 0-4 years.… (más)