Chloe Perarnau has produced a very detailed picture book that invites the young readers, aged 5-8 years, to scan the pages in search of the missing orchestra members and their instruments.
The premise of the story is that there is a very important concert that must be played, yet all of the members of the orchestra are scattered around the world on holiday. The Maestro and his assistant, a yellow bird, must take clues from the musician’s post cards in order to find them in the picture puzzles.
These pages are filled with illustrations showing different cultures and are a perfect place for many conversations with young readers to start. The clues ensure that the reader takes into account the everyday happenings of the many countries illustrated and allows them to hone in on not only the orchestra member but also their instrument.
This would be an ideal book for a first look at the instruments in the orchestra and would be wonderful read before seeing an actual concert. Similarly, if travel is planned, readers can use the illustrations to look out for activities that they may come across.
Pleasingly there are answer pages which show where the musicians and the clued images are.
Reviewed by: Leanne Caune
Rating out of 10: 7
Distributed by: Murdoch Books
Released: March 2018
RRP: $24.99 hardcover