As Glenn as Can Be
- Publisher
- Groundwood Books Ltd
- Initial publish date
- Apr 2022
- Category
- Music, Neurodiversity, Canada
- Recommended Age
- 3 to 6
- Recommended Grade
- p to 1
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781773064680
- Publish Date
- Apr 2022
- List Price
- $19.99
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781773064697
- Publish Date
- Apr 2022
- List Price
- $10.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
A warm and witty portrait of child prodigy and world-famous classical musician Glenn Gould.
Glenn was a child who knew his own mind — he liked boats but did not like fishing; he enjoyed puns and pranks but did not like bullying; he loved learning but did not like school … but more than anything else he loved to play the piano.
Glenn had a professional performing career by the time he was fifteen; he gave concerts all over the world in his twenties. He became best known for his interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. But Glenn grew to dislike concerts — the hall was too cold, or he didn’t feel well, or the audience made too much noise (he didn’t even like their applause!). He discovered that when he played and recorded music in an empty concert hall, he could make it sound exactly the way he wanted. He could do what he loved best, while being completely himself.
Sarah Ellis’s beautifully written portrait of Glenn Gould is complemented by Nancy Vo’s gorgeous illustrations, bringing the life and times of this extraordinarily talented musician to readers young and old.
Includes a fascinating author’s note and resources for further information.
Key Text Features
additional information
afterword
author’s note
bibliography
biographical information
biographical note
explanation
facts
further information
further reading
historical context
illustrations
informational note
photographs
sources
vignettes
writing inspiration
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
About the authors
Sarah Ellis is one of Canada's most-loved children's writers. A former librarian, she is a highly sought-after children's book reviewer, literary jury member and speaker who lectures internationally on Canadian children's books. She is the winner of the Governor General's Award (Pick-Up Sticks), the Mr. Christie's Award (Out of the Blue and The Several Lives of Orphan Jack) and the Sheila A. Egoff Award (The Baby Project, Back of Beyond and Odd Man Out). Further accolades for Odd Man Out include the prestigious TD Canadian Children's Literature Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Master List, ALA Notable Book for Older Readers, Maine State Library Cream of the Crop List and OLA Best Bets - Top 10 Fiction for Children. Sarah Ellis has also won the Vicky Metcalf Award for a Body of Work. Sarah is on the faculty of Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.
NANCY VO was born on the prairies and now lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. She studied fine arts and architecture, and now works as a facility planner and a picture-book maker. She is the author and illustrator of the first two books in the Crow Stories trilogy. The Outlaw was described by the New York Times as “Bewitching,” while The Ranger received a starred review from Kirkus and was praised as “visually arresting and enigmatic.” Nancy has also illustrated As Glenn as Can Be by Sarah Ellis.
Awards
- Short-listed, Chocolate Lily Book Awards, Picture Book Category
Editorial Reviews
Nancy Vo's illustrations have a cool, quirky feel that suits their subject well. Readers ... are likely to be impressed as much by Gould's idiosyncrasy as they are by his artistic dedication.
Wall Street Journal
Engaging … An accessible entry into Gould's life for young readers. STARRED REVIEW
Shelf Awareness
Wonderful ... A book about the necessity and beauty of self-expression, self-love, and self-acceptance.
Cloud Lake Literary
This is a serious and beautiful introduction to a great musician, who was also a gracious and humane man with a particular tenderness toward animals and children … As Glenn as Can Be is a celebration of individuality but also a reminder that, despite Gould's determined solitude, he left an unusually generous legacy to us all.
New York Times
Sarah Ellis and Nancy Vo combine their talents to bring Gould to life for young readers.
Montreal Gazette
Engaging, timeless and cleverly crafted.
CM: Canadian Review of Materials
