The man with the Violin by Kathy Stinson illustrated by Dušan Petričić

Young Dylan and his mother are walking through the subway. A man is playing the violin and Dylan is swept away by the beauty of the music but his mother is rushing and will not stop to listen. Later at home Dylan hears the same music on the radio. It is the man from the subway - Joshua Bell and he was "playing some of the most elegant music ever written, on one of the most valuable violins ever made." 

Imaginatively illustrated and beautifully written, this offbeat ode to the power of music is a winner. Kirkus Star review

Stinson’s text, brimming with life, is filled with onomatopoeia that places the reader in the subway station with the bustling crowds. The text centres on sounds Dylan hears throughout the day, as interpreted by Petricic's watercolour illustrations. The violinist’s music, the noise of the crowd, the roar of a train, the buzz of the radio – all are represented as sweeping lines, squiggles, zigzags, and ribbons. Quill and Quire

This book is based on a true story. Musician Joshua Bell played his violin in a Washington DC metro station on 12 January, 2007. Not just any violin a Stradivarius. It was part of an experiment to see what would happen if one of the best violinists in the world performed dressed like an ordinary street musician. He played for 43 minutes, 1000 people walked past and by the end $32.17 had been placed in his violin case. Most adults just hurried past but children tried to stop and listen. All of this gave rise to this gentle, bitter sweet story.

Just look at all the prizes this book has won:

• Winner, Digital Book Award 2014
• Joint winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre 2014
• Joint winner, Independent Publisher Book Award, Gold 2014
• Winner, TD Children’s Literature Award 2014
• Runner-up, Nautilus Award, Silver 2014
• Joint winner, Next Generation Indie Book Award 2014
• Joint winner, White Ravens Collection, International Youth Library, Munich 2014
• Joint winner, 100 Best Canadian Kids’ Books, Today’s Parent Magazine 2014
• Joint winner, National Parenting Publications Award 2014
• Commended, Best Bets List, Honourable Mention, Ontario Library Association 2014
• Joint winner, Best Book List, Kirkus Reviews 2014
• Joint winner, Storytelling World Honor Book 2014
• Commended, Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award, Honorable Mention 2014
• Joint winner, Notable Book for a Global Society 2014

Listen to Joshua Bell while you read this book which was published in 2013 - I hope you can find it in a well stocked library. Be sure to check the library catalogue because it might be shelved with the music books at 813. 

Ave Maria

Estrellita

Song to the Moon

The Man with the Violin is published by Annick Press from Canada. They always produce fabulous books. Dušan Petričić, from Serbia, is the illustrator of Mud Puddle. Here is an interview with Kathy Stinson where she talks about this book and you can hear the illustrator Dušan Petričić too. 

Here is the sequel which tells the story of Joshua Bell's early musical experiences.

Kathy Stinson is the author of The Lady with the Books which is based on the work of Jella Yepman founder of IBBY.

The Man with the Violin reminded me of these books where young children also notice things which are missed by their adult companions: