Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/01/2020 Growing up in Tel Aviv, young Itzhak Perlman loved music, whether it came from the radio, a klezmer band, a cantorial chant, or a classical symphony. He first attempted the violin at age three; following hospitalization and rehabilitation for polio, he resumed his training at five. By age 10 he was giving solo performances, and he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show at 13. Newman emphasizes young Itzhak's emotional connection to music: he sees rainbows of colors, imagines the personalities of the pieces, and becomes the melodies. While lingering paralysis means that he always performs sitting rather than standing, his disabilities do not prevent him from achieving his musical goals. Halpin's watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations clarify and extend the text by including many vivid details in the settings. She also incorporates musical notation (from Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto) throughout, which lends a magical feel to the art. Appended with generous back matter, this is a perfect introduction to this violin virtuoso. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 05/01/2020 K-Gr 4—This appealing picture book biography concentrates on the childhood of violinist Itzhak Perlman. Born to Polish Jewish parents living in Palestine in 1945, Perlman first heard music from a radio in his family's small apartment. He began studying the violin at age five and became a worldwide sensation after appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1958. Dismissed by some people as a novelty act, Perlman accepted a scholarship to Juilliard to continue his training, ultimately resulting in an illustrious performing and teaching career, winning 16 Grammys and four Emmys. Detailed back matter includes author and illustrator notes, a time line, and an extensive bibliography, and fills in details about the virtuoso's life. Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations, finished digitally, show bars of music swirling around Perlman to demonstrate how completely sound is woven into his existence. VERDICT Newman's text paired with Halpin's effective illustrations and design offers an intriguing glimpse into the life of this musician and advocate.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.