Hello, friends! Sorry we missed our review yesterday, but we’re back today with The Music In George’s Head: George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody In Blue, written by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Stacy Innerst, a magnificent look at the composer’s inspiration for the celebrated concerto.

Even as a boy, George Gershwin heard and felt music all around him, even when there was none playing. He could hear it in the sounds of his city, the boisterous and insistent sounds of vehicles, buildings and people. George loved music, and strove to listen to it, learn it, and create it at every opportunity. He listened closely to many styles and artists, drawing inspiration from anywhere to compose his songs. In 1924, a concert was being put on to legitimize jazz, a genre that was popular but considered trivial at the time, and George was invited to compose a piece. Wanting to create something truly remarkable, George drew inspiration from everything he loved: classical music, jazz, ragtime, blues, and even the sounds of the city he’d loved and lived in all his life. He put the music in his head down on paper, and what he created was one of the most beloved pieces of music in history: Rhapsody In Blue.

Who doesn’t love Rhapsody In Blue? The instrumental piece is considered one of the greatest American compositions of all time, and this was a fascinating look at how it came to be. The story is great, exploring Gershwin’s love of music, his vast sources of inspiration, and the composition of the concerto itself, including some details that even I found interesting. The art compliments the story perfectly, using a palette of blues, blacks and white to create the world of Gershwin’s city and his art, and featuring hand-written text that feels as free and flowing as the music it describes. The length was good for bookworms JJ’s age, and we both really enjoyed it. This one is a must for music lovers, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!