The Barefoot Book of Stories from the Opera
Grade 5 Up-A collection of seven opera plots, chosen for their potential interest to children. The book includes Benjamin Britten's The Little Sweep, Mozart's The Magic Flute, Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, Wagner's The Flying Dutchman, Rossini's La Cenerentola, Gluck's Orpheus and Eurydice, and Rimsky-Korsakov's Christmas Eve. Each retelling begins with a page of information on the origin of the story and a few facts about the composer, and is delightfully illustrated with renderings of graceful costumed figures from the opera and at least one dramatic full-page ink-and-watercolor painting. Although the writing flows nicely and dialogue enlivens each narrative, the complexity of the plots with their many characters, twists of fate, and magical elements may confuse youngsters unfamiliar with the stories. However, in music-loving homes and for classroom use as an introduction to listening to an opera performance, this title will be a valuable addition.Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.