Did you ever wonder: What kind of world Beethoven was born into? - What did he think about the French Revolution? - Did he ever find love? and - What caused him to go deaf at such a tragically early age? Find the answers to these and many more questions about the most revolutionary musician of his time in, Classical Giants: Beethoven. Written by a children’s author and mother of four in response to the lack of accessible but informative music history books on the market, Classical Giants brings to life with fascinating anecdotes and witty illustrations the most famous composers in history, introducing them to children as real characters who lived and breathed on a real historical timeline. Take your child on a journey of discovery to learn not only what Beethoven was like as a person but also what made him tick: what were his struggles and his joys; what were the events that shaped his world; what was important to him, what influenced him and what inspired him to create his greatest masterpieces. “This brilliantly entertaining and informative addition to children’s non-fiction contains a myriad of cross-curricular learning opportunities for the classroom and beyond. English, Music, History, Art, Maths and Science can be taught through this book making it ideal as the beating heart of an exciting and creative Topic web of learning activities. Useful for assemblies too and Social and Emotional learning, adults will enjoy it just as much as children.” Kathryn Creed, retired Assistant Headteacher and Independent Schools Inspectorate Team Inspector. For further information on the series, please visit www.classicalgiants.com "This brilliantly entertaining and informative addition to children's non-fiction contains a myriad of cross-curricular learning opportunities for the classroom and beyond. English, Music, History, Art, Maths and Science can be taught through this book making it ideal as the beating heart of an exciting and creative Topic web of learning activities. Useful for assemblies too and Social and Emotional learning, adults will enjoy it just as much as children." Kathryn Creed, retired Assistant Headteacher and Independent Schools Inspectorate Team Inspector. "This was such an enjoyable read! The interesting facts are the hero of the story through which Ludwig Beethoven absolutely springs to life. Emma Warner-Reed writes with a style that is relatable and brimming with simple comparisons to life today that made me feel as though I was reading about someone's great-uncle in a not-so-distant past. Humorous hand drawn illustrations in the style of Quintin Blake who illustrated Roald Dahl's books, complemented the book perfectly - causing me to laugh out loud often. The illustrations really added to the multi-dimensional nature of the book. In addition to captivating illustrations the layout of the text included clearly delineated and recognisable paragraphs dedicated to explaining terms that are central to the chapter but may not be understood by the reader, using simple language a child can relate to and understand. For instance, Chapter 2 where it describes the Revolution and what it was ..." a very scary time for the people of France." The layout makes it easy for the reader to locate these explanations again - kind of like a glossary but way cooler. I had never considered how aspects of Beethoven's life were so much like our own lives until now. The book's opening chapter describes the world Beethoven was born into, 'The age of enlightenment' where people of the time began to open up to new ideas and new forms of art and literature. Much like the times we are in now - embracing new ideologies and ways of thinking and living. The author tells us simply, how Beethoven wrote whole musical pieces about how good he felt out in nature - much like our modern emphasis on mediation and grounding. The differences between Beethoven's life in the 1700's and living in 2023 are surprising and yet easy to understand when we are first shown the similarities - something both adults and children will catch onto pretty fast. It is not a very long book and it can be read in about half an hour. I learnt more about Beethoven in that joy filled 30 minutes than I would have done searching 'Beethoven' on the internet or reading a more voluminous text. And I learnt in a way that I am certain the knowledge will stay with me due in part to the excellent illustrations. I am now interested in reading Emma's other two books on Mozart and Tallis! I highly recommend this book for children of about 7 and up and adults." Tigg, Amazon Reader "This book is incredibly informative, so many interactions facts for both adults and children. Written in a very interesting way that engages the reader." Lisa Snowdon, Amazon Reader "An enjoyable read for all ages, brimming with facts and understanding -wonderful!" Katie Hockey, Amazon Reader "Such a great book! This really is a lovely, high quality book