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I, Vivaldi (Incredible Lives for Young Readers
In this dynamic picture-book biography, told as if by Vivaldi himself, the famous musician's energetic personality and steadfast dedication to music come alive. Despite his mother's vow for him to become a priest, young Vivaldi is only interested in music. He soon grows from a feisty boy who wants to play the violin into a stubborn young man who puts his musical training ahead of his studies for priesthood. Beautiful, ornate artwork portrays the spirit and splendor of Vivaldi's hometown, Venice. A historical note, musical score, and glossary will help readers more fully appreciate Vivaldi's life and musical genius.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 14, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 30, 2024
You could call this book historical fiction, but you couldn't call it a biography. The main storyline—that Vivaldi didn't want to be a priest—is pure speculation. We only know that he was ordained as a priest and eventually appointed as music teacher at a girls' orphanage. It's possible that he saw the one vocation as in conflict with the other and longed to be a musician rather than a priest, but then it's also possible that he saw religious devotion and music as entirely compatible, as Bach did. For that matter, it's even possible (I admit not very likely) that he hated being a musician and loved being a priest. The historical record simply doesn't tell us. A biography can posit different theories (I could imagine Diane Stanley doing this well), but it cannot take one and run with it: that would make for fiction.
The author has the good grace to explain what she did with the historical record in a note at the end of the book. But still, anyone reading the book will come away with the (suspiciously humanist and modernist) idea that Vivaldi resented his religious vocation and wanted to devote himself to secular music-making. And so the book presumes to speak definitively, and all too predictably, where history itself is silent.
The author has the good grace to explain what she did with the historical record in a note at the end of the book. But still, anyone reading the book will come away with the (suspiciously humanist and modernist) idea that Vivaldi resented his religious vocation and wanted to devote himself to secular music-making. And so the book presumes to speak definitively, and all too predictably, where history itself is silent.
March 22, 2022
I just read a delightful children’s book about composer Vivaldi. My children played some of his piano compositions as they advanced in their piano studies. I love this book and I found some of Vivaldi's music YouTube. (Published by Eerdmans Books for Young readers ISBN:9780802855862)
The story is well written and tells of young Vivaldi's physical limitations that prevented his ability to run and play like other boys. It also told of the influence his father's musical career had on young Vivaldi.
Growing up in a musical family, Vivaldi's love for music, its composition and performance, and above all, its absorption into Vivaldi's life was shown throughout the book. His mother's insistence on his studying to be a priest, and how even though he complied, his music still became his primary focus.
I totally enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/3W_Yu1U...
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
The story is well written and tells of young Vivaldi's physical limitations that prevented his ability to run and play like other boys. It also told of the influence his father's musical career had on young Vivaldi.
Growing up in a musical family, Vivaldi's love for music, its composition and performance, and above all, its absorption into Vivaldi's life was shown throughout the book. His mother's insistence on his studying to be a priest, and how even though he complied, his music still became his primary focus.
I totally enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/3W_Yu1U...
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
November 9, 2021
An interesting picture book on the life of Vivaldi with pretty illustrations.
October 7, 2017
Subject
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was an Italian baroque composer and violinist.
Scope
In Vivaldi's own "voice," this book narrates the events of his life, beginning with his birth on the day of an earthquake when his mother promises God that her son will be a priest. This promise creates an inner conflict for Vivaldi as his musical talent is revealed, but the book follows his path to becoming both the Red Priest and a violin teacher for orphan girls.
About the Illustrations
Throughout this book Vivaldi appears warm and approachable, as though he is someone young readers would want to get to know. The illustrations also include lovely depictions of church interiors. There is just one problem, which occurs twice. The same figure is shown two different times in two different illustrations playing a pipe, and the figure's hands are reversed on the instrument. In a book about a musician, these details are especially important, so it's disappointing that an editor did not correct this error.
Author's Note
There are three notes at the back of the book. "Fact and Fiction" explains how the author wrote the text "using facts to imagine fiction." The "Glossary" defines words specific to the Catholic faith, like cardinal and Mass, as well as Italian words like gondola. Finally, the "Listen and Play" section suggests that readers listen to "The Compleat Four Seasons" and provides the Violin I part for the beginning of "Spring."
Additional Comments
This book is very well done, and one of my favorites of this month's project. Though the first person narration does make it more of a fiction book, the factual information is all correct, and presenting it as a story helps make it interesting to young readers who might not know anything about Vivaldi.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was an Italian baroque composer and violinist.
Scope
In Vivaldi's own "voice," this book narrates the events of his life, beginning with his birth on the day of an earthquake when his mother promises God that her son will be a priest. This promise creates an inner conflict for Vivaldi as his musical talent is revealed, but the book follows his path to becoming both the Red Priest and a violin teacher for orphan girls.
About the Illustrations
Throughout this book Vivaldi appears warm and approachable, as though he is someone young readers would want to get to know. The illustrations also include lovely depictions of church interiors. There is just one problem, which occurs twice. The same figure is shown two different times in two different illustrations playing a pipe, and the figure's hands are reversed on the instrument. In a book about a musician, these details are especially important, so it's disappointing that an editor did not correct this error.
Author's Note
There are three notes at the back of the book. "Fact and Fiction" explains how the author wrote the text "using facts to imagine fiction." The "Glossary" defines words specific to the Catholic faith, like cardinal and Mass, as well as Italian words like gondola. Finally, the "Listen and Play" section suggests that readers listen to "The Compleat Four Seasons" and provides the Violin I part for the beginning of "Spring."
Additional Comments
This book is very well done, and one of my favorites of this month's project. Though the first person narration does make it more of a fiction book, the factual information is all correct, and presenting it as a story helps make it interesting to young readers who might not know anything about Vivaldi.
April 28, 2017
Vivaldi is my favorite composer, so of course I had to read this book! I enjoyed this biography, told in Antonio's own voice. I didn't know that he had asthma. The book didn't say what he died from, but I wonder if it was related to his condition. It's interesting that what he lacked in physical ability he made up for with his creative ability, as if the energy that would have gone into his muscles had to go somewhere, so it went into his brain. I really must read a longer biography of him. The only thing that would have made this book better was an accompanying CD sampler of his music, so that readers could hear for themselves the brilliance of his work.
April 15, 2009
This book was very well done. We learn about Vivaldi from Vivaldi. He tells us about his life from his birth on. It was engaging and the illustrations truly added to the story.
At the end of the book there is a 'what is fact, what is fiction' section. The author stayed very close to the fact and the kids were interested in finding out what was different.
This book held their attention and taught us a lot. It's a book I'd buy for our home library if I could find it at a good price.
At the end of the book there is a 'what is fact, what is fiction' section. The author stayed very close to the fact and the kids were interested in finding out what was different.
This book held their attention and taught us a lot. It's a book I'd buy for our home library if I could find it at a good price.
November 2, 2020
Absolutely love this picture bio!
December 2, 2011
Captivating! I love the story, even if it does take a few liberties. :)
March 8, 2022
Antonio Vivaldi was a 16th century Italian composer, violinist, and…you may not know this one…a priest. I, Vivaldi is an immersive, beautifully-illustrated, imaginative first-person biography of the virtuoso aimed at upper elementary age kids. Perfect for the young violinist in your family, I, Vivaldi tells history in an informative but engaging way, focusing on the things that kids that age would be interested in.
Most notably, author Janice Shefelman focuses on Vivaldi’s mother’s desire for him to be a priest—stemming from a vow made during his difficult birth—and Vivaldi’s tension between honoring that vow and pursuing his passion. In the end, Vivaldi does become a priest (something I didn’t know!), but the passion for music makes him a pretty lousy priest. Instead, he gets to do some non-traditional priesting and teaches violin to orphaned children.
I think this point is particularly important, because it shows that you can honor your parents and pursue your passions. You can pursue both a career and a hobby. You can find ways to bring your passion into the way you teach others about God. You can honor God by using the talents he gave you. You don’t have to be a priest or pastor to serve God, you can serve God by putting to work the passion he gave you.
Tom Shefelman’s illustrations are vivid and in a painting style that fits a story set in 1700s Italy. The background work is especially well-done and the two-page panel that visually captures the Four Seasons is magnificent.
I, Vivaldi would be a great addition to school libraries, good reading for elementary music classes, or perfect in the home of a young violinist.
Most notably, author Janice Shefelman focuses on Vivaldi’s mother’s desire for him to be a priest—stemming from a vow made during his difficult birth—and Vivaldi’s tension between honoring that vow and pursuing his passion. In the end, Vivaldi does become a priest (something I didn’t know!), but the passion for music makes him a pretty lousy priest. Instead, he gets to do some non-traditional priesting and teaches violin to orphaned children.
I think this point is particularly important, because it shows that you can honor your parents and pursue your passions. You can pursue both a career and a hobby. You can find ways to bring your passion into the way you teach others about God. You can honor God by using the talents he gave you. You don’t have to be a priest or pastor to serve God, you can serve God by putting to work the passion he gave you.
Tom Shefelman’s illustrations are vivid and in a painting style that fits a story set in 1700s Italy. The background work is especially well-done and the two-page panel that visually captures the Four Seasons is magnificent.
I, Vivaldi would be a great addition to school libraries, good reading for elementary music classes, or perfect in the home of a young violinist.
October 17, 2022
The book offers an interesting look at Vivaldi's life- his medical condition and the limitations it forced upon his childhood, the unexpected blessing in it (the opportunity to pursue music with his father), the tension he felt as he was forced to become a priest rather than a musician (because of a vow that his mother had made when he was born), and how he eventually found fulfillment in his career via teaching orphans how to play his music.
My kids don't have a Catholic background so I think some of the religious aspects went over their heads. Even so, I think they caught the gist of the story. I think adults will appreciate the story more than kids, but maybe that's just me.
Personally I found the tension between his mother's vow and his passion for music to be extremely interesting. I saw God's grace in his career story and how it turned out, which really gave the story meaning for me.
A final thought- I didn't prefer the style of the illustrations but it's evident that a lot of effort and skill went into them.
My kids don't have a Catholic background so I think some of the religious aspects went over their heads. Even so, I think they caught the gist of the story. I think adults will appreciate the story more than kids, but maybe that's just me.
Personally I found the tension between his mother's vow and his passion for music to be extremely interesting. I saw God's grace in his career story and how it turned out, which really gave the story meaning for me.
A final thought- I didn't prefer the style of the illustrations but it's evident that a lot of effort and skill went into them.
March 19, 2020
My children and I have been learning about classical music together. We began with Vivaldi and are moving forward from there to the present time. We read a short book about the musician, and then spend time together listening to his/her work. With Vivaldi, we read this book and then spent time together listening to "The Four Seasons."
The book is, in some respects, stellar. The artwork is excellent and the focus on Vivaldi's childhood is a good mechanism to draw children into how and why a child might fall in love with music.
The only real drawback for the book is that it says almost nothing about Vivaldi's life once he got his start. As the writer notes, very little is known about Vivaldi, so in some ways this is understandable, but the book works better as a work of interest and inspiration than education. Both have value, so this was a great place to start, and it led us to find more information about Vivaldi elsewhere.
The book is, in some respects, stellar. The artwork is excellent and the focus on Vivaldi's childhood is a good mechanism to draw children into how and why a child might fall in love with music.
The only real drawback for the book is that it says almost nothing about Vivaldi's life once he got his start. As the writer notes, very little is known about Vivaldi, so in some ways this is understandable, but the book works better as a work of interest and inspiration than education. Both have value, so this was a great place to start, and it led us to find more information about Vivaldi elsewhere.
July 21, 2021
This one was really interesting as I like Vivaldi and didn't know anything about him. I feel like it's pretty effective as a memoir about an artist from the distant past. I read it to my 4 year old and it was definitely a bit slow for her, but held her attention and she had questions and was interested at the end. Does a good job of evoking the place of Venice in the 1600's and what was expected of people and how they had to navigate the world. Lots of reference to God, church, becoming a priest as throughout the book Vivaldi's mom is pushing him to join the priesthood. Some very cool pages showing the four winds as he is composing the Four Seasons, and neat to learn how people showed their appreciation for the music when they were not allowed to applaud in church.
Not really a good bedtime story type of book, but a great one for engaging and learning with the past, other European cultures, music, and memoir.
Not really a good bedtime story type of book, but a great one for engaging and learning with the past, other European cultures, music, and memoir.
February 1, 2022
A birth to the peak of his success story with a dramatic beginning of Vivaldi being born during an earthquake. There is constant tension between his desire for music supported by his father and his mother's promise that he would be a priest. The local bishop helps create the perfect solution. Rich detailed illustrations. Back matter completes the rest of Vivaldi's life story and includes a simple melody from The Four Seasons that is mentioned in the text.
January 16, 2019
This is definitely a historical fiction book; however, it does include a summary of the small number of facts known about Vivaldi's life. A lovely imagining of a boy determined to follow his life's calling despite parental insistence on a different path.
October 25, 2019
Beautifully written and illustrated! I now play the Four Seasons on my classroom during our working time! My class loves identifying which season is being played.
February 20, 2020
Lovely book presented as children's story to learn more about Vivaldi.
January 8, 2021
This is a book about how the celebrated classical musician and composer challenged his "destiny" to follow his passion. Bravo!
February 20, 2022
I learned so much about Vivaldi, through his own perspective. Venice is beautiful, and the illustrations do the city justice. Now I'm inspired to revisit Venice and hear Vivaldi's works there.
October 25, 2023
Read with Clive (8) Lucy (6)
June 3, 2019
That feeling when you judge a book by its cover and feel vindicated when it turns out to be a great read. Very visually pleasing. I was in the mood for Venice, and Ms. Shefelman delivered. I'm teaching "The Merchant of Venice" this next semester to my 8th graders, so I like to fortify the library with Venetian literature and artwork so they can really get a feel for the setting as we process the play. This will do nicely for my more musically-inclined readers, and I'll have "Four Seasons" blaring while they read it :)
November 5, 2009
This elegant book, for ages 8-11, gives a biographical sketch of Antonio Vivaldi and the inspirations for some of his music. We learn about his birth and his attempts to honor his parents' sometimes conflicting expectations. Mother wants him to become a priest, Father wants him to become a musician. The illustrations of Venice are gorgeous, especially the Piazza San Marco. The narrative is a little flat, but the content of the story is worthwhile, especially if you combine it with a recording of Vivaldi's music. Brief factual notes are included, along with the opening measures of "Spring" from The Four Seasons arranged for beginning violinists.
May 17, 2012
I am always pleased to see new books about Vivaldi, especially when they are geared toward children and young readers. "I, Vivaldi" is a captivating picture book and story, appropriate for elementary age and up. I've used this book in music classes for this age, in conjunction with a unit on Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," and the children love relating the music to the composer's feelings, as the book's author does.
"I, Vivaldi" is beautifully illustrated, and the author is careful to separate fact from fiction in her endnotes. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to parents and teachers who want to introduce their young students to Vivaldi and his music.
"I, Vivaldi" is beautifully illustrated, and the author is careful to separate fact from fiction in her endnotes. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to parents and teachers who want to introduce their young students to Vivaldi and his music.
April 8, 2008
In I, Vivaldi Janice and Tom Shefelman share the life of Antonio Vivaldi in a biography for children. Vivaldi’s story comes alive through memories, factual details and paintings of Venice.
Gorgeous artwork and fascinating details from Vivaldi’s life. However, the placement of the historical note at the end of the text is very misleading. Shefelman should have made it clear, from the start, that this book is her fictitious impression of Vivaldi’s life mixed with facts rather than a true biography.
Gorgeous artwork and fascinating details from Vivaldi’s life. However, the placement of the historical note at the end of the text is very misleading. Shefelman should have made it clear, from the start, that this book is her fictitious impression of Vivaldi’s life mixed with facts rather than a true biography.
Read
July 29, 2011The biography part of this story is not as extensive as might be ideal for a book that claims to be about that--but the artwork, especially the Venice skylines, are nicely done, and for a parent who might like to inspire their 3 year old violinist who is struggling, this might be a nice choice. I did wonder if Vivaldi might have had asthma, but it may just have been the way this story was written.
October 11, 2011
This book was written by someone who has great love for Vivaldi's music. It's a perfect nutshell story of his life. It includes a couple lines of "Spring" sheet music you can play and Shefelman's favorite recording of "The Four Seasons".
Read
March 16, 2011A good read. His Four Seasons is OK but I prefer his 'minor' works such as Stabat Mater:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdWvz3...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdWvz3...
July 21, 2009
Short little synopsis of Vivaldi's life.
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