The Note Who Faced the Music

by Lindsay Bonilla, Mark Hoffmann (Illustrator)

Half Note doesn’t feel whole. With two beats, she isn’t as big and beautiful as Whole Note, or as quick and upbeat as Quarter Note. She worries she’ll never measure up! So when the other members of the musical staff are at rest, she picks up like a fast tempo and leaves.

But Composer and the staff can’t play anything noteworthy without Half Note. Their only hope is to convince Half Note to change her tune and come back.

This hilarious, offbeat tale of sheet music in treble will strike a chord with anyone who’s felt out of sync, ringing with reassurance that everyone has a part to play when working as a team. At the coda, readers can develop their ear with a glossary of musical terms included.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Childrens, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 14, 2023

Reviews

[Emily]

I wanted to like this one so much more than I did. The text was confusing and hard to follow, super wordy. And the music puns were funny and great for those of us that understood them, but I feel like they would be too much for a little one. The glossary at the end was great, but again, more for older kids, adult readers and less for littles.

[Kyla]

What a great introduction to musical notes filled with wonderful musical vocabulary and a fun story about feeling like you're loved and needed just the way you are! Thanks to netgalley and school library journal for the arc!

[Pam]

I received an electronic ARC from Page Street Kids through SLJ Day of Dialogue.
Half note does not feel like he belongs with the other notes so decides to run away. Composer wisely plays a song that requires half notes knowing how it will sound. Half note returns and realizes though he will never be the other notes, he is important for who he is. Charming illustrations bring this story to life. I appreciate how musical terms are woven through the story. Bonilla provides a glossary to explain the musical terms at the end.

[Bozhena Levine]

Thank you to the School Library Journal and the publisher for this adorable book. What a great introduction to musical vocabulary and how music is written! Great for music lovers and anyone who enjoys a good story.

[Kathy]

Half Note doesn’t feel whole or that she measures up to all the other notes that Conductor has at his disposal in The Note That Faced the Music. All the other notes seem so important, so much better. Sure that he won’t be missed, Half Note leaves her friends. Yet, Composer and the entire ensemble need her to make the music sing.

This fun, snappy tale is full of punny language and illustrations that make the story pop. Readers of all ages will connect to the universal themes of being left out and comparing oneself to others. Musical terminology is deftly woven through the text, and back matter expands on the terms and offers a great illustration of how to count the beats from whole note to sixteenth note. Note will be appreciated by elementary music teachers, and educators looking for Social Emotional Learning books. This is a great read aloud choice for school and public librarians, too.

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street]

This picture book contains a familiar story but in a music-themed story. The narrative is mainly about the value of every individual. Half note is just as valuable as all the other notes and needs to discover her uniqueness is important and helps contribute to the whole.

The book is full of music-themed puns and funny moments. This will hit home for children familiar with music terminology but might go over the head of children who don't. I don't think this would work as a means of introduction to musical terminology, either, as the story itself is really about everyone finding their unique value.

***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Page Street Kids. Opinions are my own.

[Judy Sobanski]

Lindsay Bonilla's text introduces the reader to Half Note who doesn't feel she measures up to the other notes. Clever puns and musical terms are sprinkled throughout Half Note's journey to find somewhere where she'll be needed. She soon realizes how important she is to Composer when his musical arrangement sounds quite"off" without Half Note. Half Note realizes exactly where she needs to be. Kids will relate to the theme of fitting in and measuring up. They'll also enjoy Bonilla's humorous text and the colorful illustrations by Mark Hoffmann. There's also a detailed glossary of musical notes, terms, and symbols to inspire budding musicians.

[Sandra]

Never in the history of music notation has there been a book as hilarious as The Note Who Faced the Music! By following Half Note as she works through her confidence crisis, aspiring musicians will learn as they laugh. Will Half Note ever "measure up"? Will "the staff" be better off without her? Filled with wordplay after wordplay, I can't imagine a more fun way to learn about the different notes and pieces of music. Every music library will want at least one copy of this funny, yet suspenseful tale. A glossary at the end adds to the many learning possibilities.

[Katelyn Aronson]

I personally love a good fictional story that manages to teach kids about non-fiction subjects. This clever book is exactly that! Half Note doesn't feel whole, so she gives up her musical career only to realize what an important contribution she made to the 'staff' when the music no longer sounds right without her! A self-esteem tale told with musical puns galore, Italian musical terms like 'prestissimo', 'forte', and 'accelerando', and a helpful glossary in the back (that explains musical notes, pitch, keeping time, etc.), this book is a must-have for parents and educators.

[Stef Wade]

What a fun way to learn music! When half note isn't feeling so whole, she disappears! But will music sound the same without her?

This is a very punny story about notes and music that would work great in a music curriculum or for a child learning to play an instrument or read music. The bright illustrations bring the notes to life and I love the glossary at the end!

Perfect for the shelf of any budding musician or composer!

[Laronda Middlemiss]

A fun way to educate about musical notes, their meaning and what they provide. THE NOTE WHO FACED THE MUSIC delivers bright, expressive art with a narrative full of musical puns and banter between the characters.

The Message: Each musical note has a role, desiring to be like, or to be, another note robs you of seeing your value - how critical YOU are to the song. And Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is just not the same without the half note.

[Natalie Weber]

The Note Who Faced the Music is a witty wordplay that will introduce readers to a variety of musical terms and symbols. Half note feels sorry for himself when compared to the role that quarter and eighth note are enjoying in Composer’s latest composition. He leaves the staff behind and heads for the end of the line (a.k.a. Coda) on the nearest train. Sharp, Flat, and Natural all join the efforts to track her down and they eventually come up with the perfect ploy to lure her back to her spot. She concludes, predictably, that each note is important in its own right and is necessary for the successful performance of the music. Vivid illustrations by Mark Hoffmann dance across each page adding verve to this delightful story!

[Kathy Temean]

This book is a great way to introduce to musical notes. I love how this fun story has combined wonderful musical vocabulary with learning to feel love and needed just the way you are. What a great message for children. As usual, Mark’s illustration add to the fun of the book. They are sure to make kids laugh.

[Anthony]

Half-Note thinks she doesn't measure up, like the rest of the notes on the composer's arrangement sheet, so she decides to leave. When discovered missing it's up to the composer and the rest of the notable notes to prove to half note that without her on the sheet music dissonant occurs. A fun read for music lovers of all ages.

[Alexandra Hinrichs]

This is a story about feeling left out and a lack of self esteem, layered into a funny story that is chock full of music puns! Terrific backmatter at the end explaining in words and visually the different types of notes. A win for budding musicians, mathematicians, any kid who has ever felt a bit jealous (so every kid!) and the adults reading to them!

[Benson Shum]

THE NOTE WHO FACE THE MUSIC by Lindsay Bonilla and Mark Hoffmann is a great story about being who you are. That you are “whole” enough. Half note didn’t feel whole but they learned that being Half Note was an instrumental part of the musical staff. And being part of a group where everyone is important is a wonderful message.

[Heidi McFadzean]

This was such a cute book. The musical references were both on point and funny. My kids have recently started taking piano lessons, and they were excited to understand the musical side of things and not just the story.

[Lannie]

“Half note didn’t feel whole.”

A fun cheeky book for young musicians that combines a bit of music theory with feelings, and what makes us special. Little notes with big personalities, this read was a fun little jaunt.

[LAUREN HOFFMANN]

Adorable book with fun wordplay and very cute illustrations of anthropomorphic musical notation and a cool conductor. Would be great to introduce kids to the different notes and their beats

[Dow]

Such a creative way to present information about music notes, personifying them all. Kids, especially budding young musicians, will enjoy this colorful, fun book!

[Leah]

Cute was of explaining how to read music in story form. Backmatter provides index for further information.

[Harmonie]

This book is full of amazing puns if you like that sort of thing.

[Madison LibraryBookFamily]

Good review of musical notation. Little hard to follow without previous knowledge.

[Sally]

A book about music.
Every piece has an important part, each is different, but all important.

Glossary included.
Even with the definition of Riff and Bridge, I can't identify them....

[Children's Literature Centre at FSU]

Perfect book for those who love music. This book is a tale about a half note that doesn’t feel whole. A cute way to introduce music to young readers.

[Rebekah]

This was so cute! Any music lover would enjoy this.

[Colorado Buck]

delightful if you know music and musical terms. filled with musical puns and references.
it wasn't "half" bad....

[Michelle]

Cute exploration of rhythm in music and the importance of each unique individual told with cartoony illustrations and lots of musical puns

[Elissa Luckhardt]

Being less or being different doesn’t actually make you an less important. We all have our own purpose and reason for being just who we are, and a half note comes to learn just that!

[Alice]

3.5 stars
Half note feels less than and tries to run away.