A Caldecott Honor Book! A joyous celebration of family, community, and the unifying power of music, perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street.Nic is an aspiring musician whose life spans two different worlds--his suburban school where he wows his friends in orchestra, and the busy city streets of his home where he's jostled by the crowd. Nic makes his way home from a busy day at school with a double bass on his back, the symphony of his surroundings in his heart, and a sweet surprise for the reader at the end of his journey. This is a sweet, melodious picture book about how dedication, music, and family can overcome any obstacle.
On sale: October 22, 2019
Age: 4-8 years
Grade: Preschool - 3
Page count: 32 Pages
ISBN: 9781524718527
Reading level: Lexile: AD270L | Fountas/Pinnell: I
Andrea J. Loney grew up in New Jersey with a love for music--in her school band she played the xylophone. After receiving an MFA from New York University, she joined a circus, then moved to Hollywood to write for film and television. Her previous picture books include the New Voices Award-winning biography
Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee! and
Bunnybear. Currently a computer science instructor at a community college, Andrea lives with her family and their pets in a Los Angeles home filled with music . . . and picture books. Learn more at andreajloney.com or on instagram @AndreaJLoney.
Rudy Gutierrez is an award-winning illustrator whose works have earned him a Pura Belpré Honor, an Américas Award, a Children's Africana Book Award, and a New York Book Award. A Bronx native, he now lives in New Jersey and teaches illustration at the Pratt Institute. In 2002, he was commissioned to create the cover for Santana's multi-platinum album
Shaman, and his art hangs in the private collections of musical icons Carlos Santana, Clive Davis, and Wayne Shorter, among others. Learn more at altpick.com/rudygutierrez or on instagram @Rudy_Gutierrez_art.
Caldecott Honor Award Winner “Simple language complements complex paintings to create the
perfect literary melody.” —
Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“A harmony of sound and emotion through a child’s journey, his family’s warmth, and
music’s restorative powers.” –
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“A book about a lot of things—music, and determination, and straddling worlds, and the celebration of Black boyhood and family—that nevertheless feels cohesive and
effortless.” –
Horn Book, Starred Review
"Acrylic paintings in rich colors exude
movement and energy.... Readers will understand that Nic’s talent brings him great joy."
—Booklist“Multiple layers will invite a second viewing as viewers look beyond the light-touched close-ups of Nic’s face to the outlined figures of busy travelers and
whorls of music where each note head carries an expression in this
visually emotive story.”
—Bulletin
“
Colorful, full of movement, limited in text but
loaded with emotion, this is
an ode to the diversity of music and the determination of a talented kid.”
—School Library Journal
