Silent Music: A Story of Bagdad -- James Rumford

WHEN BOMBS BEGIN TO FALL, Ali drowns out the sould of war with a pen.

Like other children living in Baghdad, Ali loves soccer, music and dancing, but most of all, he loves the ancient art of calligraphy. When bombs begin to fall on his city, Ali turns to his pen, writing sweeping and gliding words to the silent music that drowns out the war all around him. Gorgeously illustrated with collage, pencil and charcoal drawings and, of course, exquisite calligraphy, this timely and yet universal story celebrates art and history but also offers young children a way to understand all they see and hear on the news.

Silent Music is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Author: James Rumford
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Published: 03/18/2008
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.26h x 11.28w x 0.37d
ISBN: 9781596432765
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 3.8
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 120559 / Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad

Award: Middle East Book Awards - Winner
Award: Red Clover Award - Nominee
Award: Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens - Recommended
Award: Jane Addams Children's Book Award - Honor Book
Award: West Virginia Children's Book Award - Nominee

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Review - Children 02/15/2008 pg. 201
Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2008 pg. 210
Publishers Weekly 03/10/2008 pg. 80
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 04/01/2008 pg. 351
School Library Journal 04/01/2008 pg. 121
Booklist 04/15/2008 pg. 51
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2008 - Superior,Well Above Average
Hornbook Guide to Children 10/01/2008 pg. 315 - Superior,Well Above Average
Multicultural Review 07/01/2009 pg. 75
ALA Notable Children's Books 03/15/2009 pg. 23

About the Author

James Rumford is the author of Sequoyah, which won a 2005 Siebert Honor and the Sugarman Award for American Biography. He lives in Honolulu, Hawaii.