
By Suzanne Slade, Stacy Innerst (Illustrator)
Discover how a musical genius crafted a masterpiece from the sounds of a bustling city.
Explore the vibrant world of George Gershwin, a composer who transformed the cacophony of New York City into the iconic 'Rhapsody in Blue.' This picture book biography captures Gershwin's journey as he blends classical, ragtime, blues, and jazz into a groundbreaking composition. With rhythmic storytelling and vivid illustrations, uncover the magic behind the clarinet's wail and the whirlwind of notes that define his masterpiece. What inspired Gershwin's unique sound, and how did he capture the essence of a city in his music? Dive into this captivating tale of creativity and innovation.
George Gershwin heard music all the time—at home, at school, even on New York City’s busy streets. Classical, ragtime, blues, and jazz—George’s head was filled with a whole lot of razzmatazz! With rhythmic swirls of words and pictures, author Suzanne Slade and illustrator Stacy Innerst beautifully reveal just how brilliantly Gershwin combined various kinds of music to create his masterpiece, Rhapsody in Blue, a surprising and whirlwind composition of notes, sounds, and one long wail of a clarinet. Includes author’s note, timeline, and bibliography.
“Bravo!”
Critic · Starred review
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Top contributors: The Goodfather · Suzanne Slade · Literary Leslie