The New York Times bestselling author of Eyes That Kiss in the
Corners, Joanna Ho, delivers a poignant picture book biography about
the musician Yo-Yo Ma, immigration, and using music to build bridges.
Winner of the Ezra Jack Keats Award Honor * Featured in Book Riot's
Must Read September 2021 List
"By examining the life of Ma, whose story resonates with courage,
persistence, and unity, Ho inspires readers to break barriers of their
own." --Horn Book (starred review)
"Everyone can benefit from Ho's message of music bringing calm and
peace to the world." --Booklist
"Hopeful and lovely." --Kirkus
"An ambitious portrait of a storied humanitarian with a clear message
of advocacy." --Publishers Weekly
Joanna Ho's lyrical writing and Teresa Martinez's vibrant art weave
together to tell an inspiring story of Yo-Yo Ma, who challenges
conventions, expectations, and beliefs in order to build bridges to
unite communities, people, and cultures. A beautiful picture book
biography to enjoy and share in the home and the classroom.
Before Yo-Yo Ma became one of the most renowned and celebrated cellists,
he wanted to play the double bass. But it was too big for his
four-year-old hands. Over time, Ma honed his amazing talent, and his
music became a reflection of his own life between borders, cultures,
disciplines, and generations.
Since then, he has recorded over a hundred albums, won nineteen Grammy
Awards, performed for eight American presidents, and received the
National Medal of the Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, just
to name a few accomplishments.
Staying true to himself, Yo-Yo Ma performed at the US-Mexico border at
the Rio Grande on April 13, 2019, as part of his multi-continent "Bach
Project" tour to prove a point--through music, we can build bridges
rather than walls between different cultures.
