Cline-Ransome, Lesa. Story of the Saxophone, The. James E. Ransome, Illus. Holiday House, 02/2023. 40pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-8234-3702-3. GRADES 1–4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Before there were saxophone greats like Dexter Gordon and Charlie Parker, there was a young Belgian named Joseph-Antoine Adolphe Sax who created a new instrument “. . . not as loud as a trumpet. Not as soft as a clarinet. Somewhere right in the middle.” The lyrical narrative traces the history of the saxophone, with soft watercolor-and-ink sketches depicting a range of time periods and locations as the instrument, initially scorned, caught on with military bands across Europe and eventually made its way to North America. Lovely portraits of musicians and decoupaged gold saxophones add a jazzy note to an interesting, well-told story that would fit well in the music section of most school libraries. The book does not contain source notes or additional resources.
Jenny Andrus—Independent