Nothing: John Cage and 4'33"

by Nicholas Day Narrated by Fred Berman

Overview

Starred Review BOOKLIST "Cage's groundbreaking composition is a big concept for youngsters to wrap their minds around and an unexpected topic for a picture book. But Live Oak's readalong offers a blend of vivid art on the page and a soundscape that connects the listener to both the book and their own personal environment. ... An essential listen for musically thoughtful kids and adults who still wonder how a blank page can be music."

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

★ "An exceptional exploration of absolutely ‘nothing’ that feels particularly radical in an ever-bustling and connected world."—Booklist, Starred Review

★ "Raschka’s stunning illustrations further these heady concepts: staff lines, disembodied notes, accidentals, and oddly placed clefs visually capture Cage’s spirit. . . The book deftly pivots in time between Cage’s childhood, the Woodstock performance, and his impact on music broadly."—The Horn Book, Starred Review

★ "A beautifully written and illustrated story of a man who wanted people to explore nothingness, which is a necessity in today’s busy world. A great read-aloud and a must-purchase for all ­library collections."—School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Raschka’s broad watercolor strokes create bold shapes, pops of color, and disproportionate figures that add a playful undercurrent to the discussion of Cage’s avant-garde work."—Publisher’s Weekly
 
"Goofy yet profound"—Kirkus Reviews
 
"[A] remarkable picture book. . . Raschka’s lively and busy watercolor, pencil, and ink drawings capture all that is actually happening around the concert hall where it first seems like nothing at all is happening."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Kirkus Reviews

2024-01-20
An introduction to Cage’s (in)famous concert work that asks the musical question: What is to be heard when no lyrics, no score, and no instruments are played?

Describing, and then in a far wordier postscript explaining, what the piece known only by its length is all about, Day recounts its 1952 premier, during which pianist David Tudor sat on stage for the indicated time doing—as Raschka repeatedly inscribes with page-filling glee in his luminous, exuberantly brushed images of the scene—“nothing.” Audience reactions were understandably mixed: “We have been tricked, they say. They do not use their inside voices.” But it wasn’t a trick; Cage, gifted since birth with (as the author puts it) “massive ears,” wanted audiences to realize that “there is always something to hear inside the silence.” He goes on to explain that each time the piece is performed, “the audience hears something different. They hear whatever there is to be heard in that moment.” Younger readers should have no trouble buying in to the notion, and for older foot draggers, the ensuing smaller-type essay eloquently builds a case for Cage’s sincerity with further details about his boundary-pushing works and his involvement with Zen. The backmatter also includes photos of the composer, a copy of the “score,” and a bibliography of titles aimed mostly at adults.

Goofy yet profound. (Informational picture book. 6-9)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940194139491
Publisher:	Live Oak Media
Publication date:	06/15/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

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