A beginning guide to orchestral music invites readers to listen to each individual instrument on the CD and then turn to the pages in an introductory text to discover more about the orchestra and its sections. Grade 3-6?First impressions can be somewhat deceiving. This handsomely designed title features an inviting layout: boxed captions; crisp, full-color photographs; and compressed information presented in double-page spreads. Varying type sizes lead the eye from headings to descriptions. Frequent diagrams illustrate where each group of instruments is seated in the orchestra, and fascinating trivia bites will intrigue browsers without overwhelming them. Organization of information could not have been better orchestrated. The accompanying compact disc, Benjamin Britten's classic The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, sonorously narrated by Ben Kingsley, paired with The Sorcerer's Apprentice, makes this package almost irresistible. Unfortunately, the scope of the presentation is just too vast. While the author glances at instruments and music of the world and peeks at learning about running an orchestra, she doesn't give a complete enough picture of the generic orchestra. There are only two very small color photos of orchestras, and the gorgeous, large, detailed illustrations of the seven highlighted instruments lack labels. The inadequate glossary does not define the cor anglais, which is mentioned, but not pictured. Neil Ardley's Music (Knopf, 1989) has pictures and diagrams of more instruments and covers the world of music, including rock, but has no information about composers or the orchestra. Betty Lou English's You Can't Be Timid with a Trumpet (Lothrop, 1980; o.p.) provides a grand, personalized tour of instruments and musicians.?Marilyn Payne Phillips, University City Public Library, MO Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. Gr. 4^-6. Accompanying this book on orchestral music is a CD featuring Britten's A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (ably narrated by actor Ben Kingsley) as well as Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice. The book begins with an overview of the orchestra and then centers around groups of instruments, explaining a bit of their history and their sound's distinctive quality. Small photographs show several instruments within the group, and one or two large photos highlight individual instruments with their parts clearly labelled. Oddly, the instrument is named only in the small group photo, not where it is shown alone. The book also introduces eight famous composers, world music, Benjamin Britten, and the background of The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra . A space for the CD is embedded in the book's front cover, a practical solution to the problem of keeping the book and music together, as long as the plastic holder is intact. Handsome and useful. Carolyn Phelan An accompanying CD of Britten's composition performed by Ben Kingsley accompanies an excellent overview book written by Anita Ganeri, who provides a lively guide to orchestra pieces and music. This colorful and eye-and-ear-catching title is especially recommended for parents who want to introduce youngsters to classical music for the first time. -- Midwest Book Review