A warm and witty portrait of child prodigy and world-famous classical musician Glenn Gould.
Glenn was a child who knew his own mind — he liked boats but did not like fishing; he enjoyed puns and pranks but did not like bullying; he loved learning but did not like school … but more than anything else he loved to play the piano.
Glenn had a professional performing career by the time he was fifteen; he gave concerts all over the world in his twenties. He became best known for his interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. But Glenn grew to dislike concerts — the hall was too cold, or he didn’t feel well, or the audience made too much noise (he didn’t even like their applause!). He discovered that when he played and recorded music in an empty concert hall, he could make it sound exactly the way he wanted. He could do what he loved best, while being completely himself.
Sarah Ellis’s beautifully written portrait of Glenn Gould is complemented by Nancy Vo’s gorgeous illustrations, bringing the life and times of this extraordinarily talented musician to readers young and old.
Includes a fascinating author’s note and resources for further information.
Key Text Features
additional information
afterword
author’s note
bibliography
biographical information
biographical note
explanation
facts
further information
further reading
historical context
illustrations
informational note
photographs
sources
vignettes
writing inspiration
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
A warm and witty portrait of child prodigy and world-famous classical musician Glenn Gould.
Glenn was a child who knew his own mind — he liked boats but did not like fishing; he enjoyed puns and pranks but did not like bullying; he loved learning but did not like school … but more than anything else he loved to play the piano.
Glenn had a professional performing career by the time he was fifteen; he gave concerts all over the world in his twenties. He became best known for his interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. But Glenn grew to dislike concerts — the hall was too cold, or he didn’t feel well, or the audience made too much noise (he didn’t even like their applause!). He discovered that when he played and recorded music in an empty concert hall, he could make it sound exactly the way he wanted. He could do what he loved best, while being completely himself.
Sarah Ellis’s beautifully written portrait of Glenn Gould is complemented by Nancy Vo’s gorgeous illustrations, bringing the life and times of this extraordinarily talented musician to readers young and old.
Includes a fascinating author’s note and resources for further information.
Key Text Features
additional information
afterword
author’s note
bibliography
biographical information
biographical note
explanation
facts
further information
further reading
historical context
illustrations
informational note
photographs
sources
vignettes
writing inspiration
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Apr 1, 2022 |
| Specifications | 40 pages | 10.25 in x 8.5 in |
| Keywords | 20th century artists; being different; being yourself; biography; finding your place; famous Canadian; CBC; neurodiverse; royal conservatory; perseverence; dedication; passion; authenticity; informational text; nonfiction; Suzuki method; authors note; |
|
Supporting Resources
(select item to download) |
Teacher's Guide |
| Written By |
SARAH ELLIS is a celebrated author, teacher and children’s literature expert. She has written more than twenty books across the genres, and her books have been translated into French, Spanish, Danish, Chinese and Japanese. She has won the Governor General’s Literary Award (Pick-Up Sticks) and the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award (Odd Man Out). Sarah is a masthead reviewer for the Horn Book Magazine, and she is a former faculty member of Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. |
| Illustrated by |
NANCY VO was raised where the sun rose in the prairies and set behind the Rockies. By night she makes picture books. She is the author/illustrator of the first two books in the Crow Stories trilogy: The Outlaw, described by the New York Times as “bewitching,” and The Ranger, praised in a Kirkus starred review as “visually arresting and enigmatic.” Nancy is also the author/illustrator of Boobies and the illustrator of As Glenn as Can Be by Sarah Ellis. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. |
| Written By |
|
SARAH ELLIS is a celebrated author, teacher and children’s literature expert. She has written more than twenty books across the genres, and her books have been translated into French, Spanish, Danish, Chinese and Japanese. She has won the Governor General’s Literary Award (Pick-Up Sticks) and the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award (Odd Man Out). Sarah is a masthead reviewer for the Horn Book Magazine, and she is a former faculty member of Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. |
| Illustrated by |
|
NANCY VO was raised where the sun rose in the prairies and set behind the Rockies. By night she makes picture books. She is the author/illustrator of the first two books in the Crow Stories trilogy: The Outlaw, described by the New York Times as “bewitching,” and The Ranger, praised in a Kirkus starred review as “visually arresting and enigmatic.” Nancy is also the author/illustrator of Boobies and the illustrator of As Glenn as Can Be by Sarah Ellis. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. |
| Audience | ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1 |
| Key Text Features | additional information; afterword; author’s note; bibliography; biographical information; biographical note; explanation; facts; further information; further reading; historical context; illustrations; informational note; photographs; sources; vignettes; writing inspiration |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 |
Short-listed, Chocolate Lily Book Awards, Picture Book Category, 2023
This is a serious and beautiful introduction to a great musician, who was also a gracious and humane man with a particular tenderness toward animals and children … As Glenn as Can Be is a celebration of individuality but also a reminder that, despite Gould's determined solitude, he left an unusually generous legacy to us all.
” —New York TimesNancy Vo's illustrations have a cool, quirky feel that suits their subject well. Readers ... are likely to be impressed as much by Gould's idiosyncrasy as they are by his artistic dedication.
” —Wall Street JournalEngaging … An accessible entry into Gould's life for young readers. STARRED REVIEW
” —Shelf AwarenessEngaging, timeless and cleverly crafted.
” —CM: Canadian Review of MaterialsWonderful ... A book about the necessity and beauty of self-expression, self-love, and self-acceptance.
” —Cloud Lake LiterarySarah Ellis and Nancy Vo combine their talents to bring Gould to life for young readers.
” —Montreal GazetteSarah Ellis and Nancy Vo combine their talents to bring Gould to life for young readers.
” —Montreal GazetteI was moved and delighted at the simple beauty of the narrative, the wonderful and sensitive illustrations. This book will introduce Glenn Gould to new generations.
” —Brian M. Levine, Executive Director, The Glenn Gould FoundationIn this stylish and charming book, Sarah Ellis and Nancy Vo capture much that is essential about Glenn Gould in an original and impressively concise way, along the way offering young children an accessible introduction to the world of classical music.
” —Kevin Bazzana, biographer and author of 'Wondrous Strange: The Life and Art of Glenn Gould'