“My First Beethoven” and “My First Ballet”

This post is done in partnership with JamJam Books

“My First Beethoven” and “My First Ballet” illustrated by Alenka Vuk Trotovsek

We have fallen in love with a new board book series and we are so excited to share it with you!  We received “My First Beethoven” and “My First Ballet” from JamJam Books and we couldn’t be more impressed.  “My First Beethoven” features a Turkish March by Beethoven with audio selections that your child can play on each page and the cutest accompanying storyline.  In it a group of string and wind instruments go through an argument over who can be loudest followed by a reconciliation and joyful ending.  I love how the story matches the music and helps children develop a deeper understanding of music composition, inspiration, storytelling and the emotions music can elicit.  It really is a beautiful combination.

In “My First Ballet” each page spread represents a different ballet with an illustrated depiction of the scene as well as an accompanying music selection your child can play.  Throughout the book you follow two children in each scene which creates a nice, cohesive flow throughout the experience.  I use the word “experience” because that is what these books really feel like to me.  The way they engage your child and the educational properties, as well as creative, that they possess really gives children a taste of classical music and ballet.

The format of these books is also of the upmost quality.  One of my favorite features is that the music is played by your child simply tapping the sensor on each page spread.  It is so much easier than a button that is buried under the hard pages that they have to press with force.  Also, tapping the sensors again turns the music off and a switch in the back can turn it all on or off.  My little girl especially loves this because it means she is in control and she can play, or silence, all the selections as she wishes.  (It is also a huge plus that the audio quality is clear and easy to hear.)

The illustrations are also a definite win in these books.  They are bright, vivid and eye-catching to young children.  In addition, as mentioned above, I love how wonderfully they compliment the music.  It is obvious to me that a lot of thought and care went into creating these books and it really shows.  They are already beloved books in our home and my little girl is already on her way to becoming familiar with their tunes.  (Which means she is getting a taste for some fine arts from books, which I LOVE!)

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You can also find this series at symphony shops such as Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera Shop and great bookstores such as Bank Street Bookstore.