Mr. Mergler, Beethoven, and Me

by David Gutnick

Mathilde Cinq-Mars (Illustrator)

Not long after arriving in North America from China, a young girl and her father bump into a kind old man at their local park. They have no idea that he has been teaching young people music for over fifty years. Mr. Mergler can hear music in a way that most of us can't, and he knows this little girl has a talent that, with encouragement, will grow into something magical. He gives her a gift that will tie them together forever.

• ISBN10: 1772600598
• ISBN13: 9781772600599
• Publish Date: 13 March 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: CA
• Imprint: Second Story Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 32
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

This is a beautifully illustrated and gentle story for young readers. Each of the 32 pages are rendered in pen, ink and watercolor by illustrator Mathilde Cinq-Mars.
The text is written simply and eloquently by David Gutnik. The story follows a young Chinese girl who meets Mr. Mergler with her father in the park and becomes the latest of his many piano students. It's a poignant story and I was surprised to learn that Mr. Mergler was real, and the basic elements of the story were true. There's an afterword with a short biography of both Mr. Mergler and Beethoven.

I loved the art and the story was honestly written. I have experienced the joy and enrichment which comes from music myself, and Mr. Mergler seems to have been a wonderful and generous man whose lifelong dedication to teaching and inspiring hundreds of students over his lifetime is a fitting tribute.

Four stars.

Anticipated release date: 18th April 2018 from Second Story Press

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.