Frederico the Mouse Violinist by Mayra Calvani

I have a soft spot in my heart for children's books and I played the violin when I was young so this book was review was a no brainer.  My 15 year-old is playing the violin so when this book was offer for review I jumped at it.  This book was written for kids between the ages 4-8.  It is very well done.  The reader will learn who Antonio Stradavari is, they will learn terms that are associated with the violin.  Terms and definitions are interwoven throughout the story as well as at the end of the book there is a page with glossary of terms, term word search page, match the terms with picture activity .   Your child will also fall in love with Frederico, the mouse who lives in Antonio's workshop.  The illustrations are just a gorgeous as the book is intriguing.  The illustrations are done very well. 

Frederico is a little mouse with a big dream: he wants to become a violinist. Each day he watches as Stradivari makes his famous violins. Each night, he sneaks into the workshop to play. But the violins are too big! Then, unbeknown to Frederico, Stradivari sees him playing and begins carving a tiny device. Could it be a famous Strad especially for Frederico?

excerpt
Frederico was a little mouse with a big name: F-R-E-D-E-R-I-C-O.

He lived in Cremona, Italy, in the workshop of a famous violin maker named Antonio Stradivari.

During the day from the tool shelf, he peeked at the luthier making his celebrated Stradivarius violins. The mouse sighed with longing. His pink nose twitched at the strong smell of wood and varnish, the oil used to make violins glossy.

 Frederico the Mouse Violinist was selected an “Award-Winning Finalist in the ‘Children’s Picture Book: Hardcover Fiction’ category of the 2011 International Book Awards.

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. Her nonfiction work, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing was a ForeWord Best Book of the Year Award winner. She’s had over 300 stories, articles, interviews and reviews published. Frederico, the Mouse Violinist is her fifth and latest children’s picture book.

Mayra reviews for SimplySharly.com and is co-editor of Voice in the Dark Ezine. She also offers book reviewing workshops online. Visit her website at www.MayraCalvani.com. For her children’s books, visit www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com.
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An ecopy of this book was provided for review by Pump up your Book tours