Start with a bit of island culture, throw in a love of music, and finish off with a plea for recycling trash and see if an interesting children’s book can happen. In The Girl Who Heard the Music with words by Marni Fogelson and Mahani Teave and pictures by Marta Alvarez Miguens, the team does exactly that. I read the book, that goes on sale April 4, in an advance reading copy furnished by Net Galley.
The story begins with Mahani Teave living on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island. She takes piano lessons on the island’s only piano and adds the love of classical music to her appreciation for the local ukulele traditions. Pursuing that talent meant leaving the island to study and eventually to perform as an accomplished concert pianist. Her heart stayed with her home. When she returned, she found that tourists had also discovered it and produced an abundance of trash.
With a new dream, Mahani has built a new music school with reconstructed trash, solar panels, and a food garden. The story will appeal to students who care about music, the environment, and interesting cultures. Marta Alvarez Miguens enhances the story with her vivid picture of the islands and its traditions.
The book also has an abundance of extra information with its author’s note and tidbits about the culture.