Orchestra

Crisply paced and clearly written, this engaging introduction to the western orchestra is appealingly substantive. The first half covers the symphony orchestra’s history and composition, exploring its sections (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, guests) and investigating how representative instruments from each category make sound: “When the player blows into the [clarinet], it is the reed’s vibration against the mouthpiece that makes the sound.” Nuovo elegantly builds concepts as the text proceeds: “You may have started to see a pattern in how instruments work. Some use air, some are plucked or bowed, but all of them are doing the same thing to make sound: vibrating.” In the second half, narrative focus expands to include “The Music and Its Makers” (refreshingly, Nuovo chooses to feature Hildegard of Bingen, Amy Beach, and Duke Ellington, among others) and orchestral music “Beyond the Concert Hall.” Doran’s coolly stylized illustrations use smoky shades of rust, ochre, and blue to enliven the pages. Ages 7–10. [em](Nov.) [/em]