Jubilee! One Man’s Big, Bold, and Very, Very Loud Celebration of Peace

On June 15, 1869, Boston hosted the National Peace Jubilee, a massive, multi-day concert that was the brainchild of Irish-born Patrick S. Gilmore. “The music would celebrate the bravery of the soldiers!” writes Potter. “The unity of the land! The end of the war!” Despite the public’s skepticism, Gilmore’s efforts paid off in a spectacular concert featuring more than 11,000 performers and upwards of 30,000 in attendance. Potter’s prose and Tavares’s paintings deliver a rousing performance themselves—the sea of humanity packed into the Temple of Peace as the concert begins is breathtaking, and a testament to the immense power of music. Ages 7–10. Author’s agent: Prospect Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Stimola Literary Studio. (Apr.)