Hi, everybody! This is Cosmo, the Library Cat. I want to tell you about some books that are extra special, because they play music while you are reading them! They’re called the Story Orchestra, and we have five of them at the Grand County Public Library.
In “The Nutcracker,” the classic Christmas ballet is retold with beautifully illustrated scenes. Push the button on each page to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Tchaikovsky’s score.
“Carnival of the Animals” is the story of two brothers who discover a magical kingdom behind their bookcase. They have an animal-filled adventure, but all they want is to get back home! This book includes extracts from “The Swan,” “Aquarium,” “Fossils,” and “Finale” (from Disney’s Fantasia), woven together into a new story.
In “Sleeping Beauty,” the king and queen’s new baby is cursed by a witch, and the kingdom must find a way to lift the curse. As you journey through the magical scenes illustrated by artist Jessica Courtney Tickle, you can press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the ballet’s music. “Four Seasons in One Day” is the story of a girl and her dog, who go on an adventure to discover the changing seasons. This story contains excerpts from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons concerti.
“Swan Lake” is the tale of a prince, a swan princess, and an evil sorcerer who is out to trick the prince. The reader is again treated to the magnificent music of Tchaikovsky. At the back of each book, there’s a short biography of the composers, buttons to replay the music, and a glossary of musical terms. The Story Orchestra books are a great way to introduce children of all ages to classical music, while continuing to foster their love of reading.
