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Jul 08, 2009

Kathryn rated it:

Oh, WOW! I LOVED this book!!!! I love the entire creation--the words, the illustrations, the music. It is AMAZING! First of all, it is so very, very FUNNY! Humor is always so subjective but this just absolutely clicked with me. OMG! Witty stuff here. I love the personalities that Snicket assigns to the various instruments. For example, the "The violin section is divided inot the First Violins, who have the trickier parts to play, and the Second Violins, who are more fun at parties. More...

9 comments like (5 people liked it)

Oct 28, 2008

Monica rated it:

Yesterday I played the CD of this to my fourth class and showed them the illustrations (from the F&G I got at last week's HarperCollins' spring preview). It is terrific!

When I told the kids we were going to listen to something by Lemony Snicket several announced that they'd HATED the Unfortunate Event books. But of course --- these are fall fourth graders, after all, and I suspect those that disliked the books only picked them up (as 3rd or even 2nd graders) because friends were l More...

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Jan 12, 2009

Elizabeth rated it:

Remember the days when kids would learn about the different instruments of the orchestra by attending mandatory orchestral performances of Peter and the Wolf? Well, go to bed, old man! Kids today don’t have time for stories of wolves and boys and lucky/unlucky duckys. Not them. No, these days to grasp a child’s attention fully it takes nothing short of murder. Cold-blooded, tastefully adapted, deeply illustrated murrrrderrrrr (roll them r’s about your tongue). A shot has been cast across t More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Mar 05, 2009

Jamil rated it:

Opening exerpt:

"The Composer is Dead.

"Composer" is a word which here means "a person who sits in a room, muttering and humming and figuring out what notes the orchestra is going to play." This is called composing. But last night, the Composer was not muttering. He was not humming. He was not moving, or even breathing.

This is called decomposing."

Nicely illustrated by Carson Ellis. Comes with an audio CD (reading +

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 25, 2009

Kori rated it:

It's like "Peter and The Wolf" except, Lemony Snicket. (I was going to say "better", but I realized that I actually like Peter and The Wolf".)

It's very clever, and the lady who illustrated the liner notes for most of The Decemberists albums illustrated this.

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 26, 2009

Rebecca rated it:

Lemony Snicket has struck again....he is a genius...GENIUS, I say! Many you know that I loved The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket...and I recently blogged my review of his book, The Lump of Coal, which I loved,as well. I may venture to say that this is my favorite one of his books yet. It is a picture book that includes a free cd (if you happen to check this out at the library, be certain that the cd is there inside the front cover!!!). I read the book in a matter of minutes and i More...

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Mar 25, 2009

Theresa rated it:

The first time I ever heard of Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead, was before this book was ever published. Mr. Snicket and his dear old friend, and composer, Nathaniel Stookey, had been commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony to create a theatrical orchestral piece to encourage youth to become more involved with classical music. A sort of Peter and the Wolf for modern children.

This piece landed at the LA Phil (www.laphil.org) and I promptly took my budding cellist of a daugh More...

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Nov 29, 2011

Michelle rated it:

Originally posted at Libri Ago.

★★★★★★★*

The moment I saw Lemony Snicket's name on the cover of The Composer Is Dead at the library the other day, I knew I had to read it. I knew it would be funny; what I wasn't expecting was this musical masterpiece.

The story is somewhat basic: a composer has been murdered, and the detective must sound out the man, er, instrument who committed the crime. The text, however, isn't what makes this book so amazing.

This More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jun 25, 2010

Jeana rated it:

I picked this book up at our local library after seeing it on the shelf. I thought Bianca would like it given how much she's into composing music. And this book is really funny. A composer is found dead and there's an investigation of who was responsible for the composer's death. They go through all the different instruments and sections in the orchestra who could be responsible. Bianca particularly liked the part where they forget about the violas, as everyone does. The french horn sectio More...

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Jun 21, 2010

Monster added it

The Composer is Dead is a pretty sophisticated picture book. The plot is simple- the composer is dead, and the Inspector is interrogating the various instruments in the orchestra to find out who’s responsible. The humor, vocabulary, and need for context are not simple at all. I “got” the jokes, but I’m not the target audience for picture books. My four year old, who is in the target audience for picture books, loves music, and always wants me to identify the individual instruments in orchestral More...

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May 22, 2010

Sarah rated it:

This story, written by the same author as A Series of Unfortunate Events, provides a darkly humorous introduction to the orchestra. The composer is found dead and an inspector begins interrogating the different sections of the orchestra. The strings all had alibis; the woodwinds fend off the blame and pass the inspector on to the 'violent lot' of brass. The case's culprit is a twist I should have seen coming but didn't.

This book uses a blend of sarcasm, word definitions, instrum More...

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Sep 08, 2009

Heidi rated it:

I got this book only because I was intrigued by what picture book Snicket would come up with this time. To my surprise, I read it with great enjoyment. I thought it was very clever, and humorous besides. I also liked the personification of orchestral sections. I thought there was a great message at the end, too.

Luckily, before I about turned the book back in, I took a closer look at the cover. I read "Music By Nathaniel Stookey." "There's music?!" I thought. I won More...

1 comment like

Jul 24, 2009

Shel added it

Snicket, L. (2009). The Composer is Dead. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

9780061236280

Music teachers! Pay attention! This book is wonderful for you (and for others, but especially for you).

The composer is dead (just in case you couldn’t tell be the title). Since the death is suspicious, an investigator is called in to solve the mystery. He questions the various instruments that make up an orchestra, searching for the most likely sus More...

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Jun 20, 2009

Sarah-Greenbeanteenqueen rated it:

Ok, I will admit that I got through only four books in the Series of Unfortunate Events because I just couldn't take all the terrible stuff those poor Baudelaire orphans had to deal with! Even though I couldn't finish the series, I did like Lemony Snickett's humor, so I was eager to pick up this new picture book.

The Composer Is Dead is lots of fun and it had me laughing. I thought maybe I appreciated some of the jokes because my mom is a music teacher and I've grown up around classic More...

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Mar 27, 2011

Elena rated it:

The Composer is Dead is a fascinating book that seamlessly weaves together narrative, illustrations, and sound. Lemony Snicket is, as previously demonstrated in his middle grade Series of Unfortunate Events books, incredibly clever and great at building tension. Like his novels, this book is hilarious but with an underlying hint of darkness that adds to the reading experience. Carson Ellis's watercolor illustrations are beautiful, sweeping works of art that evoke and complement the accompanying More...

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Jul 09, 2009

Konya rated it:

I read this in a bookstore yesterday to see if it would appeal to any kids in the family, so in that setting, my rating is obviously on the book itself and no thought given to the CD inside. I thought the story was a good introduction to the orchestra for children, more so than Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf because of the explanations offered during the story rather than just a story itself. (Though, I still love Peter and the Wolf.) My only complaint is that the book also reinforced stereoty More...

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Apr 14, 2009

babyhippoface rated it:

When the Composer is found dead, the Inspector interrogates the members of the orchestra, from the strings to the brass. They all maintain their innocence, and each has a comical alibi; the violins, for example, proclaim they would never have murdered the Composer, for if they had, they “would have to find work at square dances or in romantic restaurants.” Ellis’ pen-and-watercolor illustrations lend an old-fashioned feel. Darkly humorous in the vein of Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events ser More...

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Mar 09, 2010

Tamra rated it:

Book without CD gets 1 star.
Book with CD gets 5 stars.

Without the CD, this book is almost worthless, a word which here means "a complete and utter waste of time, even if it is mildly amusing and educational."

Fortunately, with the CD it's fun. The music is great, and hearing Lemony Snicket read it is a treat. It was a little slow for my boys (ages 6 and almost 4), but my daughter (age 8) liked it a lot and said, "I bet my music teacher at school woul More...

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Feb 10, 2010

g2 rated it:

I'd heard about this at a recent college audition, and from the descriptions (which mostly consisted of hinting at a part, and then expressing shared sentiment about how awesome it was) my curiosity was naturally piqued. Being a musician myself, and being familiar with the various members of the orchestral family and their demeanors, I especially appreciated this gem.
It's good enough as-is, but it's improved immensely with the included disk. The first nine tracks are the author narrating More...

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Apr 30, 2010

Amber rated it:

When Jessica read this last semester when we shared a book from our MTS, I fell in love with this book. I am a huge music fan. I play in an orchestra at my church and I love listening to music. This book is a great way to introduce students, any age to what an orchestra is about and all the different instruments in the classroom. This brings music into the classroom. Also, I would love to have this version, because the book has a CD that has the story, but also has just the music on it, which wo More...

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Mar 10, 2009

Lisa rated it:

I see this book as a creative way to teach kids about the different sections of the orchestra. I listened to the CD and it totally made this book come alive for me. I upped my score by 2 stars. If you get this from the library, be sure the CD is with it and listen as you read!!

5 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 20, 2009

Robyn rated it:

While children could read this book (especially the kids that loved the Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate... books) it also includes content directed more to adults.

If you have a child or an adult in your life that is involved in music - this is THE gift!

The Composer has been murdered!!!The investigator has been called in. In the course of the investigation the detective runs through the various instruments in the orchestra in a thoroughly charming manner. Extolling More...

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May 02, 2009

Heather rated it:

Fantastic! Marvelous! Wonderful!

The book is a companion piece, something to look at while you listen to the CD that's tucked into the front cover. It's an introduction to orchestral music for young people, in the form of a murder mystery. The composer is dead- who has killed him? Was it the strings? The brass? Those shifty woodwinds?

Lemony Snicket's narration is funny, the music is entertaining, and the whole package would make a very nice introduction to instrum More...

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Sep 03, 2011

Amy rated it:

While this book was entertaining for an adult, it was a little confusing for my niece. She says that she really liked all of the instruments in this book, but the resolution to the mystery was confusing and over her head.

The story was well written and well told, and from the adult point of view it was a clever tongue-in-cheek mystery tale. It was also pretty fun to read out loud. The illustrations were simple, but fun, too. I'd like to give this one three stars, but for a childre More...

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Apr 06, 2009

Molly rated it:

The composer is found dead, and none of the instruments (not even the long neglected Viola or the strangely accented French Horns) are above suspicion. This fun murder mystery draws readers (and listeners, more on that later) into the inner workings of an orchestra; highlighting the strengths and common uses of a variety of instruments. The witty one-liners throughout make the read very fun for parents. There is an accompanying CD which is a dramatic interpretation of the story. It runs for abou More...

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Mar 20, 2009

Bobby rated it:

Snicket's follow-up to his Series of Unfortunate Events is a humorous orchestra/music lesson masquerading as a murder mystery. This one didn't exactly grab me (maybe I should have listened to the accompanying CD?), but I could see how it could work well in the classroom, although I think "Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin" is better. A lot of the humor is funny but much of it will go over kids' heads, but this is Snicket after all, so that's not much of a surprise. Cool illustrations but I wond More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 11, 2011

JaNeal rated it:

Filled with Snickety-wit, tongue-in-cheek morbidity, exaggeration, and word play, this book is a fun read. I'm a big fan of stories based on non-fiction topics and this one really pushes the edge is a delightful way. The accompanying cd got a little long-winded (musically) for my 10-year old daughter and I, who wanted to move through the story. Still, I would love to see this book and the musical score performed live (or, in this case, is that dead?). I think it would be marvelous. I also l More...

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Mar 29, 2009

Dawn rated it:

Absolutely delightful. This book is a shoo-in to replace both "Peter and the Wolf" and "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" when read along with the included CD. The music is original for this CD and the story, while simple, is engaging.

The basic plot is: The composer is dead and the Inspector must find out what happened by questioning each of the segments of the orchestra. Simple, yes, but well done and extremely amusing. I would definitely recommend More...

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Mar 16, 2009

Tlnorz rated it:

This is not the type of book that I would usually include in my list or my list of reviews but is was so good that I just had to add it in.
The story is similar to, "Peter and the Wolf" -- in is a vehicle to introduce children to orchestras. However, in my opinion, it is much better than, "Peter and the Wolf." It is verrrry funny and does a better job of explaining parts of the orchestra.
The book also comes with a CD, narrated by the author's publicist.
I More...

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Aug 21, 2009

Alison rated it:

The story starts, as you might imagine, with a dead composer. An inspector comes in and asks a few questions of the orchestra to figure out whodunnit. Certain remarks are made about the various instruments which are rather apt. Of my beloved instrument, the inspector asks, "What say you, French Horns? You have a strange accent." Their response? None. "The French Horns did not understand the question, and began murmuring a story about the Old Country." Teehee!
read more.. More...

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