When Dan Brown was growing up, his parents decided not to keep a television in the house. So he spent his childhood playing the piano, reading and solving puzzles. He started writing piano pieces when he was five, and aspired to become a musician before turning to writing. Brown’s first children’s book “Wild Symphony”, which released in September, is a combination of his love for music and his passion for storytelling and mysteries.
What’s the book about?
“Wild Symphony” is about a musical conductor-it’s a mouse named Maestro. At the beginning of the book, you learn that Maestro mouse is preparing to put on a musical concert with a motley team of wild animals from blue whales and kangaroos to ostriches and cheetahs. Each animal has a special secret, and readers have to guess what it is by decoding the jumbled letters hidden throughout the stunning illustrations in the book.
Accompanied by music
Scanning the QR code given in the book will lead you to a free, augmented reality app. You can listen to music by pointing your phone camera towards each page. The music has been composed by Brown himself. Each animal is accompanied by a musical score, which reflects its special personality – whether it is upbeat and fun like bouncing kangaroos or quirky like the buzzing bees. All the 21 musical pieces are performed by the Zagreb Festival Orchestra, Croatia.
Life lessons
In addition to playing a musical instrument, the animals offer a valuable life lesson to the readers don’t be afraid to be yourself and failure is a stepping stone towards success. This interactive musical picture book is a delight for the eyes and ears!
Did you know?
Like Brown, many famous authors have dabbled in children’s books. Here are some examples:
- Salman Rushdie – “Haroun and The Sea of Other Stories
- Ernest Hemingway-“The Faithful Bull”
- Gertrude Stein – “The World Is Round”
- Margaret Atwood – “Up In The Tree
- James Joyce – “The Cat And The Devil”
Picture Credit : Google