We Light Up the Sky with Music!

December 1, 2023
Music makes a powerful statement. Old Bear sits indoors on a gloomy day. A small bear--a grandchild?--coaxes him into taking a walk. When Little Bear takes his hand, he agrees, reluctantly. It's windy and chilly, and Old Bear wants to return home, but Little Bear urges him on. Suddenly, they hear a sound. Investigating, they discover among some trash a battered saxophone: "The wind must have brought it to life," says Little Bear. They take it home and repair and polish it. Little Bear's attempts to play the instrument fail. When Old Bear tries, with Little Bear's encouragement, he initially produces hearty squawks, but gradually, "the noises turn into notes...deep and rich and round." Thereafter, Old Bear's music lights up the sky; friends visit to listen. Old Bear is now happier and deeply grateful to Little Bear. The two visit the park daily, where Old Bear performs with his group, and later, Old Bear gives Little Bear a most appropriate birthday gift. This charming, uplifting story, narrated in first-person present tense by Little Bear, isn't only about music's transformative power. It's also about how children can help brighten the outlooks of older adults--relatives or otherwise--and give their lives meaningful purpose. The pen and pencil illustrations, with colors added digitally, are cozy and delightful; onomatopoeic "musical" words are incorporated playfully throughout the text. Inspiring. (Picture book. 5-8)

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January 26, 2024

PreS-Gr 2-Maland shares the experience of budding musicians around the world: learning a new instrument. Old Bear and Little Bear are tired of being cooped up in their city apartment, so they brave the blustery weather for a walk. Along the way, they find a saxophone in the trash. They take it home, fix it up, and Old Bear slowly learns to play. After Old Bear's eventual success, they gift Little Bear a horn and the learning process begins anew (much to the neighbors' chagrin). With the exception of Old Bear managing to clean and mend a saxophone but unable to play a single note, the plot is crisp and comforting. Maland's illustrations, a combination of pen and pencil work with digital color, combine structured architectural patterns with fluid, abstract shapes depicting evolving music. The all-animal cast provides fun details and their reactions help to communicate the bears' varying levels of musical prowess. VERDICT A sweet story with a classic feel. A general purchase for larger collections.-Taylor Worley

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