When Rubin Plays

Starred review from May 8, 2023
Inside a one-story building shaded by a palm forest, children play stringed instruments, an adult conducts, and a small boy, Rubin, listens, enraptured. Broad strokes of sunny yellow paint surround Rubin with warmth as he listens to the orchestra, and to his sister, Isabel, practicing the cello. When Rubin asks if he may learn to play, the maestro gives him a violin, but it’s not so simple. (Rubin’s cacophony is scrawled in black ink: “eeeeeeiiiieoooih.”) “Practice, Rubin,” the maestro tells him, “and you’ll soon play with us at the concert.” Rubin rehearses “quietly, quietly” at the back of the room, supported by his bandmates, but playing in the forest is better. The shrieks of his violin don’t bother anyone, and his yowling instrument attracts a clowder of cats that yowl back (“Miiaaoooo”). When the night of the concert comes, and Rubin joins in, his sound results in a magnificent whirlwind performance. Spreads and text from Zhang (Dear Mr. G) pulse with joy (“Forte forte forte his heart beat”) as the whole community acknowledges Rubin’s unique contribution (“Magnífico, Rubin,” Isabel sighs) in this wondrous tale of trust in self and collaboration. Protagonists are portrayed with brown skin. An author’s note concludes. Ages 4–8. Agent: Hannah Mann, Writers House.

May 15, 2023
A budding musician finds an unexpected audience. Entranced by the soaring, beautiful sounds of his small Bolivian town's orchestra, brown-skinned Rubin embarks on a journey to master the violin. His first try does not go as planned, with the screeching sound of his instrument eliciting giggles from the other young musicians. But the determined child quietly perseveres, and after the day's practice, he ventures into a thick, verdant forest to practice alone. There, his discordant notes attract the attention of cats who accompany his violin with their howling mews, keeping to his volume and tempo with gusto. Night after night, the group continues to practice with enthusiasm, with their efforts culminating in a uniquely magnificent performance for the town. Zhang's rough, expressive brush strokes make each page vibrate with sound and movement in a lively visual symphony. The dramatic and exaggerated expressions of the cats--who grow in number and are chaotically strewn about the pages--are bound to draw delighted laughter. This charming story of a boy finding his sound will inspire beginners to persist in their endeavors and to approach their creative journeys with passion and confidence--even if their skills may not be there yet. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A tale that is truly mew-sic to the ears. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)

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September 1, 2023
In Zhang's (The Big Bath House, rev. 11/21) latest picture book, a young child finds freedom in creating music his own way. Enamored of his village's youth orchestra, Rubin asks to join. As soon as he sets bow to violin strings, though, the unseemly screeching sets the rest of the children to laughter. Embarrassed, Rubin goes to the forest to find "somewhere away, where he could practice alone." The sounds draw an unlikely audience: a herd of curious cats who chime in with their own miiaaoooooos. Rubin's feline accompanists give him new confidence in the unusual noises that his violin can produce. During the day, Rubin practices with his peers and quietly plays along. In the evenings, however, he returns to the forest, where "his heart beat forte forte forte" and he plays with abandon among his choir of cats. Finally, on the day of the big orchestra concert, Rubin must decide whether to fully express himself. Throughout the book, Zhang's bold brushstrokes remain distinct, filling each illustration with a sense of movement emanating from the natural world and the music at the story's core. As outlined in the author's note, the story is set in the town of Santa Ana de Velasco in Bolivia, giving the book a strong sense of place. A beautifully executed tale about the power of music to lift the soul and the importance of finding joy in one's own unique voice. Grace McKinney Beermann

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2024
In Zhang's (The Big Bath House, rev. 11/21) latest picture book, a young child finds freedom in creating music his own way. Enamored of his village's youth orchestra, Rubin asks to join. As soon as he sets bow to violin strings, though, the unseemly screeching sets the rest of the children to laughter. Embarrassed, Rubin goes to the forest to find "somewhere away, where he could practice alone." The sounds draw an unlikely audience: a herd of curious cats who chime in with their own miiaaoooooos. Rubin's feline accompanists give him new confidence in the unusual noises that his violin can produce. During the day, Rubin practices with his peers and quietly plays along. In the evenings, however, he returns to the forest, where "his heart beat forte forte forte" and he plays with abandon among his choir of cats. Finally, on the day of the big orchestra concert, Rubin must decide whether to fully express himself. Throughout the book, Zhang's bold brushstrokes remain distinct, filling each illustration with a sense of movement emanating from the natural world and the music at the story's core. As outlined in the author's note, the story is set in the town of Santa Ana de Velasco in Bolivia, giving the book a strong sense of place. A beautifully executed tale about the power of music to lift the soul and the importance of finding joy in one's own unique voice.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)