Dancing Hands How Teresa Carreño Played The Piano For President Lincoln

 

Title: Dancing Hands How Teresa Carreño Played The Piano For President Lincoln

Author: Margarita Engle

Illustration: Rafael Lopez

Genre: Biography, Non-Fiction, Cultural

Major Awards: Pura Belpra Illustrated Award

Ages: 4-8 Years old

Summary:

This biography story is based on the life of Teresa Carreño,who as a little girl loved to play the piano. When Teresa was a little girl in Venezuela, Mama sang lullabies, while Papa showed Teresita how to play the piano. Teresita would practice a lot and work very hard to make her songs sound gracefully and lively. Whenever, Teresita was sad, or happy, music was her way to express and let out her emotions. By the time she was six years old, she would write her own songs, and by the age of seven, she would perform in chapels. By the age of eight, Teresa moved because of the Civil War. She moved to a place, where she knew no one, and not many people spoke Spanish like her. However, Teresa learned how to play waltzes, sonatas, booming symphonies, and lively folk songs. Her music helped people change their moods from dark moods into light moods. People began to call her the Piano Girl. Teresa triumphed in enormous theaters. Teresa traveled with her dad. By the time she was ten years old, President Lincoln wanted her to play for his whole family at the White House. Later then, the president's young son passed away from an illness. Teresa had sympathy for President Lincoln's family. Abraham Lincoln's favorite song was "Listen to the Mockingbird." Teresa made a personal connection with her life and used this as an opportunity to bring comfort and joy to the president's family. When, Teresita finished playing the piece, Abraham Lincoln stood up and clapped very proudly at the little girl. This made Teresita happy because she knew her music did the job, even if it were for a moment.

Book Evaluation:

1) I would recommend this book to my class because it is a very inspiring story. I can relate to Teresa because as a little girl, I also loved to play the piano. My piano teacher always told me that practice made perfect, and this proved to be true in this story. This also, brought me back to when my piano peer also made it big. My piano friend knew how to play piano so well that he came out on newspapers too. We were only eight years old at the time, and my piano friend knew how to play waltz and sonatas by memory. He would master a one hour song, and that would be very impressive. I love how Teresa's music brought such joy and comfort in such hard times for the country and to the President's family. 

2) I would recommend this book from Pre-Kinder to Third grade level.

3) I would use this book in the unit of Music. Although, I also think this would be great for a History unit too. I would have them listen to Abraham Lincoln's favorite song, "Listen to the Mocking Bird," and play it for them too. I would also, have them reflect on the song lyric and symphony to see how the music piece brought comfort to president Abraham and his family.