Itzhak: A Boy Who Loved the Violin

“The Perlmans’ tiny apartment seemed ordinary.... Yet a little kitchen radio\t transformed this simple home.” More significantly, this particular radio transformed the world by inspiring young Itzhak Perlman, renowned violinist and beloved public figure. Newman conducts readers through Perlman’s childhood in Tel Aviv, revealing his resilience in the face of obstacles, including, at age four, a bout of polio that left him reliant on crutches or braces. “Running around the block, riding a bicycle, jumping off a diving board—all these ordinary things Itzhak would never be able to do. But Itzhak... knew the melody inside him gave him a different gift.” After growing serious about the violin, the boy performs at age six and solos by age 10. Newman’s appealing story culminates with the teenage Perlman’s life-changing 1958 performance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Halpin’s colorful illustrations of a young Perlman, ribboned by swirling staves of musical scores, reflect his vivid inner world and warm-hearted life. Includes a timeline, notes, and bibliography. Ages 4–8. [em](May) [/em]