Music

Gr 5-8–This unique history of music consists of a time line of key musical events throughout history, broken up by full-page spreads describing early music, recording technology, The Beatles, and contemporary music. Understandably, the text is much heavier on information from the 20th century and beyond than music from earlier times, though there is a well-done map of prehistory musical developments from around the world. Onomatopoetic expressions accompany the vibrant illustrations, creating a soundscape to supplement the time line. There are fascinating details of each event, which will reward readers who take the time to peruse the book carefully. The format, which folds out to eight feet, could make the book cumbersome, and despite its heavier paper stock may not hold up well with heavy use. However, the pages can also be turned in the traditional way without missing any content. Young people with a strong interest in music will enjoy the information presented here.