Oscar Lives Next Door: A Story Inspired by Oscar Peterson's Childhood

K-Gr 3—Millie lives next door to a family of musicians—even the youngest child in the family plays piano. But it's Oscar, the Peterson closest in age to Millie, who's her constant playmate. Oscar finds magic in the trumpet, but all that changes when he is sent away to recover from tuberculosis. For a time during his recovery, Oscar stops talking but finds his voice by the time he returns home. Although he can no longer play the trumpet, he soon starts playing the piano in earnest, and he and Millie resume their friendship. The fictionalized narrative includes actual events from the life of jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson (Oscar's recovery from tuberculosis and selective mutism). Illustrations are childlike and as expressive as the language used to create this appealing glimpse into an accomplished musician's childhood. Together, text and image present a long ago time and place with characters that resonate today. An author's note describes the Montreal neighborhood where the Petersons lived and how it has changed over time. The conclusion brings the themes into focus: "Oscar died on December 23, 2007. Although much of the Little Burgundy neighborhood where he grew up is gone forever, Oscar's legacy lives on in the students and jazz enthusiasts who have been influenced by his music."