Monday, October 4, 2021

Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma by Joanna Ho and Teresa Martínez - ADVISABLE

Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma
by Joanna Ho and Teresa Martínez
PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY Harper Collins, 2021. $18. 9780062994547 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In April 2019, Yo-Yo Ma played a concert on the shores of the Rio Grande river, facing Mexico, hoping to build bridges rather than walls.  

Beautiful illustrations and lyrical text, more about Yo-Yo Ma than when he played at the border. I really loved how Joanna Ho tied a worldwide culture together in this story of Yo-Yo Ma, through the music, his life, even his violin. However, you would need to read the additional material at the end to find out about the Bach Project and learn that it was more than just the one event, and makes a lasting statement about immigration. I wonder if it was done this way to make the story less political?

Lisa Librarian

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