Nonfiction Monday: Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys

Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys by Lang Lang with Michael French

Reviewed by Erica Moore

Lang Lang has been named one of the top 20 teens who will change the world. He played the opening concert for the World Cup 2006 Munich. In 2008 he played at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. He is a rare star in the classical music and more with his work as an ambassador for UNICEF. Lang Lang has fan clubs and a shoe with Adidas.

His story starts at the beginning with his earliest memories of family and the piano. He remembers sitting at the piano at 2 years of age and practicing the piano by age 3. By the age of 5 he wins his first piano competition against much older students. Lang Lang seldom watches tv, plays with friends or with toys although he loves transformers. He practices the piano for hours every day. When it becomes clear Lang Lang is a musical prodigy his father takes him to live in Beijing and audition for a prestigious music academy. This takes Lang Lang away from his mother as she stays behind to work and support the family. He is only 8 when he goes to Beijing and 10 when he wins a scholarship placement at the music academy.

Lang Lang’s story is amazing and sad as he recalls his childhood and his relationship with his father in a very factual way. Lang Lang misses his mother greatly and goes years without seeing her so that he may further his piano career. His father seems only to care about Lang Lang winning first place in competitions. Lang Lang has music to comfort him and seems to escape his life in his practicing. Lang Lang doesn’t come across as bitter and makes an attempt to explain the Chinese culture of competition and his father’s temperament which seems abusive to my western viewpoint.

Lang Lang recently visited my home town of Portland, Oregon and his performance made the front page. I unfortunately didn’t see him perform but after reading his story I will definitely make an effort.

This is an engaging autobiography about someone who accomplishes amazing things in their early teens. I was moved by this book. I think teens will be hooked reading about someone living so completely different. They will be shocked and angry about the things that happen to Lang Lang but all the drama and triumph is what makes this a compelling story. There is a map, timelines, vital stats and fun facts about Lang Lang, and a glossary to help round out any paper on a famous person.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

I.N.K.: "Along the way, readers will absorb a considerable amount about China, its history and culture, as well as the power of all kinds of music, particularly classical." (read more...)

More Information:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (July 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385735782
• ISBN-13: 978-0385735780
• Source: Publisher Review Copy
  

Listen to some samples of Lang Lang's music here.

Stop by Anastasia Suen's Picture Book of the Day for more Nonfiction Monday delights.

Nonfiction Monday: The Raucous Royals by Carlyn Beccia

Happy Nonfiction Monday! Today, I'm presenting another book that has been nominated in the Nonfiction Middle Grade/Young Adult category for the Cybils Awards.


Raucous Royals: Test your Royal Wits: Crack Codes, Solve Mysteries, and Deduce Which Royal Rumors are True is a very fun and engaging book that investigates whether or not common rumors about the world's most famous royalty throughout history are true or false. For example, did Anne Boleyn really have six fingers? Was Napolean Bonaparte as short as he was rumored to be? Was King Henry VIII so large that his servants had to carry him because he couldn't walk?

Throughout the book, readers encounter speech bubbles, quizzes, funny caricatures, tabloid magazine-style articles, and other interactive text that make readers become a part of the investigation and learn how over time, facts can be twisted. The information in the book is chunked into short segments so that readers never feel overwhelmed with content. A section at the end of the book even tells readers how they can begin to investigate other rumors they may have heard.

Carlyn Beccia made smart choices about which information to present, creating a book that makes history fun and appealing and that I believe will have kids interested in learning more. I'm definitely keeping my eye out for more books by her in the future.


Resources:

The Book's Blog and website include a lot of resources for further investigation. They're well worth checking out.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

I.N.K. "A book with wickedly appealing art and layout, little quizzes, juicy historical tidbits." (read more...)



More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618891307
• ISBN-13: 978-0618891306
• Source: Review copy from publisher

Also by Carlyn Beccia:

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Nonfiction Monday: Amazing Things Animals Do by Marilyn Baillie, illustrated by Romi Caron

Amazing Things Animals Do by Marilyn Baillie, illustrated by Romi Caron

All four titles in the award-winning series, Amazing Things Animals Do, are now available under one cover with the same name, giving young readers an encyclopedia of fascinating facts about animals.




The book is divided into four sections:

1. Side by Side: Animals Who Help Each Other
2. Little Wonders: Animal Babies and Their Families
3. Time to Eat: Animals Who Hide and Save Their Food
4. Wild Talk: How Animals Talk to Each Other
   

Each section features 13 full-color spreads, presenting information about animals around the world.

For example,

• Baby sea otters are born in the ocean and live in kelp beds
• Some female cuckoo birds lay eggs in other birds' nest, leaving others to raise and nurture her young
• Ring-tailed lemurs claim their territories by leaving a smelly scent
• Elephants communicate long-distance using deep rumbling sounds that human ears can't hear

In addition to Romi Caron's captivating and realistic watercolor illustrations, a small photograph of the featured animal is on most spreads.

Image courtesy Maple Tree Press

In the back of the book is a "Who's Who" guide giving more information about the animals and their habitats.

This would make an excellent choice for kids who are interested in animals, and would also make a great resource for science teachers, especially when covering species and habitats. Because Ms. Baillie does not overwhelm the reader with content, this would make a perfect choice for reluctant readers.


Visit the Nonfiction Monday roundup at Picture Book of the Day.

More information about the book:

• Reading level: Ages 5-8
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Maple Tree Press (January 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1897066864
• ISBN-13: 978-1897066867
• Source of book: Review copy from publisher
  

The Art of Freedom: How Artists See America by Bob Raczka

It's Nonfiction Monday! Visit the roundup at Picture Book of the Day!

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Library Binding: 32 pages
Publisher: Millbrook Press

When I was young, I had little exposure or interest in art. As an adult, I'm surrounded by museums that feature art of various types, and when I visit these museums, I truly appreciate the art but wish I knew more about the history, the technique, and the artists themselves. I should have taken an art history course in college and maybe I'll still do it one of these days. If you have a child who loves art or if you'd like to expose your child to more art, Bob Raczka's Art Adventures series is a great way to introduce art without overwhelming him/her. Through paintings, portraits, photgraphs, sculpture, and easy-to-read text, Bob Raczka introduces some of the world's most famous works of art and encourages young readers to develop an appreciation for it.

A new book in the series, The Art of Freedom: How Artists See America, defines America through the eyes of famous artists. The book features 18 statements answering the question, "What is America?" Each statement is accompanied by a famous work of art that visually represents the statement. Underneath each work of art is the name of the artist, the name of the piece, and the location of where the piece is displayed. For example, beside the statement, "America is an idea," is John Trumbell's painting The Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776.
Ansel Adams' Desert Road accompanies the statement, "America is the open road," and Georgia O'Keefe's Brooklyn Bridge is opposite the page that says, "America is man-made marvels."

The background of each page alternates between red and blue with faded stars at the top. The art and colors, combined with the inspiring statements, give the book a very patriotic feel. I can even imagine this book being a great gift choice to US military members as a way to honor their service.

Raczka did an exceptional job of choosing art to compliment the text and makes these famous works of art accessible to young readers without intimidating or overwhelming them, and I am eager to read the other books in the series.

Nonfiction Monday: Let's Go! The Story of Getting From There to Here by Lizann Flatt, illustrated by Scot Ritchie

Let's Go!: The Story of Getting from There to Here by Lizann Flatt, illustrated by Scot Ritchie

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Maple Tree Press (September 28, 2007)

Sometimes when traffic is heavily jammed on the highway during my morning commute, I take an alternate route to my Alexandria, VA office past George Washington's Mt. Vernon Estate. That leg of my route is only eight miles long and takes about 15 minutes, but I often wonder how long it took Washington to travel the same distance to do business in Alexandria. Certainly, the roads weren't paved and he didn't have a car. Did he encounter danger along the way? Who traveled with him? It makes me appreciate the fact that technology has enabled us for the most part to travel great distances quickly and safely. But it took quite a while and numerous inventions and innovations to get us where we are today.

Let's Go!: The Story of Getting from There to Here by Lizann Flatt and illustrated by Scot Ritchie tells the story of transportation from the Ice Age to today and beyond. Through the book we see the first travelers who migrate to North America on foot carrying backpacks and pulling their possessions in travois. We see European ships arriving carrying horses which become a major mode of transportation for quite some time. We see the invention of the steam engine, trains, streetcars, cars, and airplanes. How will we get around in the future? Flatt poses this question in the end. Will space travel become as common as automobile travel?

Without overwhelming readers in detail, Let's Go!: The Story of Getting from There to Here gives a fantastic introduction to all of the different modes of transportation. Readers get just enough information in the text to learn the basics about the featured mode of transportation.

For example:

"A noise up above! Machines in the air! Propeller planes skipped through the skies. Landing on lonely lakes like giant geese, bushplanes buzzed in with supplies and the mail. "

With details down to the type of clothing people wore during the time period, children will enjoy all of Scot Ritchie's vibrant illustrations that provide an even clearer picture of the different types of transportation and the people who used it. Children will also have fun finding the dog that appears in each spread.

The back of the book features a "Did You Know" section with even more information.

Let's Go!: The Story of Getting from There to Here would be an excellent resource for a social studies classroom and a great book to spark discussion.

Other Blog Reviews:
Miss Rumphius Effect

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