This Magical Musical Night
By Rhonda Gowler Green
“Sanchez’s gently humorous animation-style spreads suggest a 21st-century Fantasia.” —Kirkus
Music! Music! Oh, how grand! A language we all understand.
Get swept away by the musical performance of a lifetime as, one by one, each instrument of the symphony orchestra shows off their skills!
Follow along as the symphony orchestra’s various instruments are introduced. From violin to trumpet, flute to trombone, each plays its part, contributing to a grand and mystifying performance. These magical instruments will transport you in a way only music can. Soar with the strings, float away with the woodwinds, and play in a percussion thunderstorm! Music can take us anywhere, so celebrate and learn about all the instruments of the orchestra and the music that unites us.
The moment I heard the pitch, my mind went straight to Fantasia. I wanted to make something just as beautiful to look at, a book where the music carries you out of the concert hall and into a different world on every page. Both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly picked up on it, comparing the book to Fantasia in their reviews.
This Magical, Musical Night was my very first book with The Bright Agency. James Burns and I had just finished tightening up my portfolio when he found it for me. I remember exactly where I was: in my best friend Bobo’s backyard, mid-lift. We’ve known each other since we were eight, back when we only saw each other through sports, and once we finally landed at the same high school, we were wrestling partners all four years. I put the weights down to take James’s call, and he told me the news. There was one last step, a test to make sure my art and the words fit together, and then the book was mine.
This Magical, Musical Night was published by Little Bee Books on September 7, 2021. It earned a starred review from School Library Journal and a spot on SLJ’s Best Picture Books of 2021. Honestly, it felt like sitting on cloud nine. My first picture book had been named a Sydney Taylor Notable, and now my second was getting starred reviews and praise like this. It was inspiring and humbling, and it still is.