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Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln
The story of Teresa Carreño, a child prodigy who played piano for Abraham Lincoln.
As a little girl, Teresa Carreño loved to let her hands dance across the beautiful keys of the piano. If she felt sad, music cheered her up, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share that joy. Soon she was writing her own songs and performing in grand cathedrals. Then a revolution in Venezuela forced her family to flee to the United States. Teresa felt lonely in this unfamiliar place, where few of the people she met spoke Spanish. Worst of all, there was fighting in her new home, too—the Civil War.
Still, Teresa kept playing, and soon she grew famous as the talented Piano Girl who could play anything from a folk song to a sonata. So famous, in fact, that President Abraham Lincoln wanted her to play at the White House! Yet with the country torn apart by war, could Teresa’s music bring comfort to those who needed it most?
As a little girl, Teresa Carreño loved to let her hands dance across the beautiful keys of the piano. If she felt sad, music cheered her up, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share that joy. Soon she was writing her own songs and performing in grand cathedrals. Then a revolution in Venezuela forced her family to flee to the United States. Teresa felt lonely in this unfamiliar place, where few of the people she met spoke Spanish. Worst of all, there was fighting in her new home, too—the Civil War.
Still, Teresa kept playing, and soon she grew famous as the talented Piano Girl who could play anything from a folk song to a sonata. So famous, in fact, that President Abraham Lincoln wanted her to play at the White House! Yet with the country torn apart by war, could Teresa’s music bring comfort to those who needed it most?
40 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2019
About the author
Margarita Engle
70 books373 followersMargarita Engle is a Cuban-American poet, novelist, and journalist whose work has been published in many countries. She lives with her husband in northern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 427 reviews
March 8, 2020
Teresa grew up in Venezuela playing the piano with her dad, a politician. War broke out there and they had to leave the country and came to NYC. (The picture of them on the boat in the ocean during a storm with an outline of a girl in the water and her hair was the turbulent waves was very cool.) She began playing with orchestra’s at age 10 and her name got around. In 1883, Abe Lincoln invited her to the White House where she played for the President in his red music room. This is all based on fact.
She even wrote music and she wrote her own waltz. I would love to find that somewhere and listen to it preformed. It’s too bad stuff like that isn’t also preformed nowadays.
The artwork was wonderful and it brought the story to life. I thought the prose was tight and it did a great job of conveying moods in this story. I love it. I love how images were used to convey music and not just music notes.
The nephew, well, there isn’t anything for him. He’s a man of his age. This is set in the past about music that’s not Michael Jackson with no robots or monsters. He still likes those things plus Harry Potter. So, he thought this story was boring. I don’t think I’m going to get through to him. He likes what he likes and that’s okay. He gave it 2 stars for that picture of the boat in the sea. It was pretty cool.
She even wrote music and she wrote her own waltz. I would love to find that somewhere and listen to it preformed. It’s too bad stuff like that isn’t also preformed nowadays.
The artwork was wonderful and it brought the story to life. I thought the prose was tight and it did a great job of conveying moods in this story. I love it. I love how images were used to convey music and not just music notes.
The nephew, well, there isn’t anything for him. He’s a man of his age. This is set in the past about music that’s not Michael Jackson with no robots or monsters. He still likes those things plus Harry Potter. So, he thought this story was boring. I don’t think I’m going to get through to him. He likes what he likes and that’s okay. He gave it 2 stars for that picture of the boat in the sea. It was pretty cool.
September 5, 2019
This book is so beautifully written & illustrated—the language leaps off the page as vibrantly as the illustrations, with a wonderful message of how courage, hope & kindness carry us far in difficult times. I love how the author explored the duality of light & darkness in life, the way they coexist and create music out of our joys & sorrows.
September 18, 2021
The memory of meeting past challenges now helped her fingers dance, celebrating the way life had turned out to be a mixture of all sorts of feelings, happy and sad.
Do you know the story of Teresa Carreño? She played the piano in a private concert for President Lincoln shortly after he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Teresa's family emigrated from Venezuela in 1962. Her musical talent helped her to feel more at home here in a nation where brother was warring against brother. The composer Gottschalk gave her piano lessons and was also performed for the president. This book won the Pura Belpré Award for illustration in 2020. The colorful illustrations are beautiful and inviting while the lyrical text evokes the Teresa's dancing hands. A fabulous choice for Hispanic Heritage Month!
Do you know the story of Teresa Carreño? She played the piano in a private concert for President Lincoln shortly after he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Teresa's family emigrated from Venezuela in 1962. Her musical talent helped her to feel more at home here in a nation where brother was warring against brother. The composer Gottschalk gave her piano lessons and was also performed for the president. This book won the Pura Belpré Award for illustration in 2020. The colorful illustrations are beautiful and inviting while the lyrical text evokes the Teresa's dancing hands. A fabulous choice for Hispanic Heritage Month!
September 4, 2019
Dancing Hands..Wow...this was such an informative picture book. Honestly, before reading this book I had never heard of Teresa Carreno or that she played the piano for President Lincoln during the Civil War. I was amazed at how young and talented she was and how she had to escape war from her home country of Venezuela only to come to the United states to become immersed in our own civil war. I found everything about this book fascinating. My only criticism is the simplicity with which the Emancipation Proclamation was handled. I think that Engle did not present the document in its true form. It was stated on one page that the Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves and this simply isn't true. It may seem small to some readers, but as someone who received a degree in history, I think that it is important that our children receive access to historical information with as much accuracy as possible. If not, we run the risk of perpetuating falsehoods that are carried into adulthood. Other than that, I thought that the book was amazing and the artwork truly spoke to the narrative of the book.
April 23, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.
I have lived in this country, gone through its education system in various states and studied history, as taught to the general public, many many times. This is a story I never heard. Not once. And I grew up in the Los Angeles School District to start. . . .
The story Margarita Engle tells of Teresa Carreno's prodigious talent at the piano, and her invite as a 8 year-old child to play for President Abraham Lincoln was news to me. I am grateful for her writing the story, and for the bold, bright, imaginative swirls of color and clear featured illustrations of Rafael Lopez to accompany this surprising story. The art beckons, and then encourages a reader to linger, and ponder. It could be tricky to report a story about a child, set between two wars - one in Venezula, her home country, and in the US, the country in which her family finds refuge.
She is nervous, and when settled on the bench is dismayed to discover the piano is out of tune. She doesn't want to play and her music be found wanting. She played, but was out of sorts with the results. The president, a kind and simple man asks her to play his favorite song, "Listen to the Mockingbird." She knows it, is pleased because it will not be lessened by the imperfect instrument at which she sits, and she lets her dancing hands dance. . .He enjoyed every note.
Appreciated mightily by my zoom crew, all of who live in houses with pianos, and have mothers with Big Ideas about pianos needing to be played regularly by children.
I have lived in this country, gone through its education system in various states and studied history, as taught to the general public, many many times. This is a story I never heard. Not once. And I grew up in the Los Angeles School District to start. . . .
The story Margarita Engle tells of Teresa Carreno's prodigious talent at the piano, and her invite as a 8 year-old child to play for President Abraham Lincoln was news to me. I am grateful for her writing the story, and for the bold, bright, imaginative swirls of color and clear featured illustrations of Rafael Lopez to accompany this surprising story. The art beckons, and then encourages a reader to linger, and ponder. It could be tricky to report a story about a child, set between two wars - one in Venezula, her home country, and in the US, the country in which her family finds refuge.
She is nervous, and when settled on the bench is dismayed to discover the piano is out of tune. She doesn't want to play and her music be found wanting. She played, but was out of sorts with the results. The president, a kind and simple man asks her to play his favorite song, "Listen to the Mockingbird." She knows it, is pleased because it will not be lessened by the imperfect instrument at which she sits, and she lets her dancing hands dance. . .He enjoyed every note.
Appreciated mightily by my zoom crew, all of who live in houses with pianos, and have mothers with Big Ideas about pianos needing to be played regularly by children.
Read
September 29, 2021The memory of meeting past challenges now helped her fingers dance, celebrating the way life had turned out to be a mixture of all sorts of feelings, happy and sad.
Do you know the story of Teresa Carreño? She played the piano in a private concert for President Lincoln shortly after he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Teresa's family emigrated from Venezuela in 1962. Her musical talent helped her to feel more at home here in a nation where brother was warring against brother. The composer Gottschalk gave her piano lessons and was also performed for the president. This book won the Pura Belpré Award for illustration in 2020. The colorful illustrations are beautiful and inviting while the lyrical text evokes the Teresa's dancing hands. A fabulous choice for Hispanic Heritage Month! *Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge*
Do you know the story of Teresa Carreño? She played the piano in a private concert for President Lincoln shortly after he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Teresa's family emigrated from Venezuela in 1962. Her musical talent helped her to feel more at home here in a nation where brother was warring against brother. The composer Gottschalk gave her piano lessons and was also performed for the president. This book won the Pura Belpré Award for illustration in 2020. The colorful illustrations are beautiful and inviting while the lyrical text evokes the Teresa's dancing hands. A fabulous choice for Hispanic Heritage Month! *Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge*
December 14, 2019
I enjoyed the story and learning about Teresa Carreno, but the true star of this book is Rafael Lopez's illustrations. They are transcendentally beautiful and I notice something new every time I love at them.
March 14, 2024
Women’s History Month: book number 6.
The text is lyrical. The illustrations are absolutely magical! Both evoke a sense of musical wonder. I like the themes of light and darkness; struggle and hope.
Little Teresa Carreno began life within a musical family in Venezuela.
“Papa showed Teresita how to let her happy hands dance across all the beautiful dark and lights keys of a piano.”
“If Teresa felt sad, music cheered her, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share bursts of joy.”
By age six, she was composing her own songs, and at age seven, she performed in a grand cathedral.
At age eight, there was revolution in her country, her Papa rushed the family to the seashore and onto a ship during a storm. When they arrived in New York, Teresa was homesick and without friends or any English words. “All around her, curious strangers stared and whispered as if her whole family belonged in a museum of oddities.” Worst of all, her new country was also fighting a war - the great Civil War.
Teresa began practicing the piano again, sharing her music with friendly people in her home. She became known as “The Piano Girl.” Newspapers spoke of her, she performed in concerts, played solos with great orchestras, and performed in elegant cities. People applauded and threw her roses.
At age ten, Teresa received a special invitation from President Abraham Lincoln. He wanted HER to play for his family at the White House! The war raged, the country was suffering and divided; and recently, Abraham and Mary Lincoln’s son, Willie, had fallen ill and died. “How could music sooth so much trouble?” Teresa wanted to bring comfort to the grieving parents and their two surviving sons.
Teresa was nervous and clung to Papa’s hand. She entered the red Music Room in the White House. She needed to be brave. She remembered all of the hard challenges that she had met with courage. She could do this, even with a piano that was out of tune, especially when President Lincoln was kind, and asked her to play his favorite song, “Listen to the Mockingbird.” She improvised and made this lively song very special.
Teresa was happy that she had brought joy to the grieving family!
The text is lyrical. The illustrations are absolutely magical! Both evoke a sense of musical wonder. I like the themes of light and darkness; struggle and hope.
Little Teresa Carreno began life within a musical family in Venezuela.
“Papa showed Teresita how to let her happy hands dance across all the beautiful dark and lights keys of a piano.”
“If Teresa felt sad, music cheered her, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share bursts of joy.”
By age six, she was composing her own songs, and at age seven, she performed in a grand cathedral.
At age eight, there was revolution in her country, her Papa rushed the family to the seashore and onto a ship during a storm. When they arrived in New York, Teresa was homesick and without friends or any English words. “All around her, curious strangers stared and whispered as if her whole family belonged in a museum of oddities.” Worst of all, her new country was also fighting a war - the great Civil War.
Teresa began practicing the piano again, sharing her music with friendly people in her home. She became known as “The Piano Girl.” Newspapers spoke of her, she performed in concerts, played solos with great orchestras, and performed in elegant cities. People applauded and threw her roses.
At age ten, Teresa received a special invitation from President Abraham Lincoln. He wanted HER to play for his family at the White House! The war raged, the country was suffering and divided; and recently, Abraham and Mary Lincoln’s son, Willie, had fallen ill and died. “How could music sooth so much trouble?” Teresa wanted to bring comfort to the grieving parents and their two surviving sons.
Teresa was nervous and clung to Papa’s hand. She entered the red Music Room in the White House. She needed to be brave. She remembered all of the hard challenges that she had met with courage. She could do this, even with a piano that was out of tune, especially when President Lincoln was kind, and asked her to play his favorite song, “Listen to the Mockingbird.” She improvised and made this lively song very special.
Teresa was happy that she had brought joy to the grieving family!
September 30, 2019
Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln is a children's picture book written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael Laopez. It is a biographical picture book of Teresa Carreño – a Venezuelan pianist.
Mid-September to Mid-October, at least in my part of the world is Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.
María Teresa Gertrudis de Jesús Carreño García was a Venezuelan pianist, soprano, composer, and conductor. Over the course of her 54-year concert career, she became an internationally renowned virtuoso pianist and was often referred to as the Valkyrie of the Piano.
Engle's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. The free verse whirls and twirls, playful and vivacious, which elevates narrative to an almost musical art form. López's swirling colors, soaring birds, and scattered notes conjure music's transportive powers amid the countries’ war-torn landscapes, which complements the text rather well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It tells the story of how a young refugee from Venezuela comforted the grieving president with her music. Music helps Carreño express her feelings and cope with her family’s emigration to the United States. Her reputation as a prodigy leads to an invitation at the White House.
All in all, Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln is a wonderful biographical picture book of Teresa Carreño – The Valkyrie of the Piano.
Mid-September to Mid-October, at least in my part of the world is Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.
María Teresa Gertrudis de Jesús Carreño García was a Venezuelan pianist, soprano, composer, and conductor. Over the course of her 54-year concert career, she became an internationally renowned virtuoso pianist and was often referred to as the Valkyrie of the Piano.
Engle's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. The free verse whirls and twirls, playful and vivacious, which elevates narrative to an almost musical art form. López's swirling colors, soaring birds, and scattered notes conjure music's transportive powers amid the countries’ war-torn landscapes, which complements the text rather well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It tells the story of how a young refugee from Venezuela comforted the grieving president with her music. Music helps Carreño express her feelings and cope with her family’s emigration to the United States. Her reputation as a prodigy leads to an invitation at the White House.
All in all, Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln is a wonderful biographical picture book of Teresa Carreño – The Valkyrie of the Piano.
February 10, 2021
Such a pretty picture book biography of a person I hadn't heard of before. I loved the idea of music bring light and joy to places where there is darkness and sorrow, even if only temporarily. One of the reviews I read addressed the inaccuracy about when the Emancipation Proclamation is mentioned, it is, as we are incorrectly told in elementary school, said to have "freed all the slaves". This is valid, and should be corrected. I hate inaccurate oversimplifications. If you are going to write a picture book, respect your audience enough to tell them the truth. This is wonderful in so many ways; I wish that error didn't exist.
February 25, 2020
What a delight in recent years to learn about so many interesting people through picture book biographies; this is a prime example. I knew nothing of Teresa Carreno, and found the illustrations to be just perfect! No wonder Lopez won the Pura Belpre Award. As a matter of fact, this prompted me to go to his website; he has done a wonderful job with so many books!
Many of the inside pages are much more vibrant than the cover, which does convey the idea that Carreno played for Lincoln during the somber war time period. In fact, I attended a JLG webinar where this book and several other award winners were discussed. Dancing Hands does a great job of conveying joy and concern.
Many of the inside pages are much more vibrant than the cover, which does convey the idea that Carreno played for Lincoln during the somber war time period. In fact, I attended a JLG webinar where this book and several other award winners were discussed. Dancing Hands does a great job of conveying joy and concern.
Read
March 12, 2020A gorgeous picture book biography
May 22, 2021
Is there any story Margarita Engle can not tell and tell well? This picture book is no exception. Set in two countries, Venezuela and the United States, readers are introduced to Teresa Carreno whose family seeks refuge in the U.S. as a result of persistent conflict in Venezuela. As a young girl, Teresa, the piano girl as she is also referred to, learns her gift of music brings joy during difficult times. Even when she is doubting herself, her music instills confidence. Teresa's hands glide across the piano and she is able to be at home with the memories of Venezuela and at home seeking comfort in the United States, a place so foreign. It is her musical gift that affords her the opportunity to play for President Abraham Lincoln.
The president could use the comfort and confidence that Teresa's music offers as he had just lost his son and was also facing a huge moral and political crisis --slavery and succession. Teresa knew the brevity of her performance and although she was afraid she played through her fear and brought comfort to the grieving president.
The picture book is lyrical through its words and illustrations. It tackles ideas notions of who can contribute to society (age, race, gender and citizenship) really well. I am glad to have been introduced to the music and story of Teresa.
The president could use the comfort and confidence that Teresa's music offers as he had just lost his son and was also facing a huge moral and political crisis --slavery and succession. Teresa knew the brevity of her performance and although she was afraid she played through her fear and brought comfort to the grieving president.
The picture book is lyrical through its words and illustrations. It tackles ideas notions of who can contribute to society (age, race, gender and citizenship) really well. I am glad to have been introduced to the music and story of Teresa.
September 15, 2019
“When Teresa was a little girl
in Venezuela, Mamá sang lullabies
while Papá showed Teresita how
to let her happy hands dance
across all the beautiful
dark and light keys
of a piano.”
Lopez’s astounding illustrations and Engle’s lyrical text make this book pure joy to read. Teresa Carreño was a masterful pianist at a young age who grew up in an era of turmoil – in her home country of Venezuela and in her adopted country of the United States (i.e., Civil War). Music soothed not only Carreño, but also the people who heard her play (in Europe and the U.S.).
Read this aloud in the k-3 classroom. While the text & illustrations tackle complex subjects like “homeless refugee” and “North battling South” and so forth, even our youngest students will glean some important messages from this book.
SUGGESTIONS for INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD – As always, there’s so much to enjoy in this book that I’d just read it aloud with very few stops along the way the first time. Then return to the book and read aloud again, pausing to engage students in conversation with you or in small student-led groups. A few thoughts about questions you might pose –
• On 2nd two-page layout – “What do Engle and Lopez compare Teresa’s playing to?” and “How
does that help you understand the power of the music Teresa played?”
• What does Engle mean when she writes (insert language from text)? (e.g., “playing hymns that
shimmered like hummingbirds” or as Teresa made her way in a new unfamiliar country “Teresa
practiced…her strong hands accepting the challenge of life’s many dark and light moods” or…)
• How does Lopez use dark and light color schemes to reveal Teresa’s feelings or the mood of the
world she lived in?
• What does this page (the text and illustrations) reveal about Teresa’s character?
• How does music play an important role in this particular part of the book? Or in this period of
time?
TIP for READING ALOUD – The sentences are long and can be quite a mouthful for us as we read aloud to students. Engle’s text is poetic – so I’d read this aloud as though you were reading poetry, pausing where it feels natural at the end of phrases and so forth. In other words, don’t rush—take your time, pausing to let students absorb the language and meaning.
Honestly, I just LOVE Lopez & Engle’s Drum Dream Girl and am thrilled they chose to collaborate again. I’d read aloud BOTH books to students; great opportunity to compare two young artists who overcame obstacles in pursuit of their dreams.
in Venezuela, Mamá sang lullabies
while Papá showed Teresita how
to let her happy hands dance
across all the beautiful
dark and light keys
of a piano.”
Lopez’s astounding illustrations and Engle’s lyrical text make this book pure joy to read. Teresa Carreño was a masterful pianist at a young age who grew up in an era of turmoil – in her home country of Venezuela and in her adopted country of the United States (i.e., Civil War). Music soothed not only Carreño, but also the people who heard her play (in Europe and the U.S.).
Read this aloud in the k-3 classroom. While the text & illustrations tackle complex subjects like “homeless refugee” and “North battling South” and so forth, even our youngest students will glean some important messages from this book.
SUGGESTIONS for INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD – As always, there’s so much to enjoy in this book that I’d just read it aloud with very few stops along the way the first time. Then return to the book and read aloud again, pausing to engage students in conversation with you or in small student-led groups. A few thoughts about questions you might pose –
• On 2nd two-page layout – “What do Engle and Lopez compare Teresa’s playing to?” and “How
does that help you understand the power of the music Teresa played?”
• What does Engle mean when she writes (insert language from text)? (e.g., “playing hymns that
shimmered like hummingbirds” or as Teresa made her way in a new unfamiliar country “Teresa
practiced…her strong hands accepting the challenge of life’s many dark and light moods” or…)
• How does Lopez use dark and light color schemes to reveal Teresa’s feelings or the mood of the
world she lived in?
• What does this page (the text and illustrations) reveal about Teresa’s character?
• How does music play an important role in this particular part of the book? Or in this period of
time?
TIP for READING ALOUD – The sentences are long and can be quite a mouthful for us as we read aloud to students. Engle’s text is poetic – so I’d read this aloud as though you were reading poetry, pausing where it feels natural at the end of phrases and so forth. In other words, don’t rush—take your time, pausing to let students absorb the language and meaning.
Honestly, I just LOVE Lopez & Engle’s Drum Dream Girl and am thrilled they chose to collaborate again. I’d read aloud BOTH books to students; great opportunity to compare two young artists who overcame obstacles in pursuit of their dreams.
February 5, 2020
Sensitively written and colorfully illustrated biography of a homeless refugee who became a prodigy and concert pianist. She played not only for Lincoln but also for Liszt and Rossini. Venezuelans refer to her as the lioness of the piano.
September 17, 2019
The message is beautiful, the illustrations are beautiful, and the blending of history, culture, and the arts is why I’ll read anything by this author. My music students will love this story!
March 10, 2021
This biographical story features the life of Teresa Carreño, a young musician from Venezuela, how she traveled to America and ended up playing piano for President Abraham Lincoln. The story begins with Teresa developing a love and passion for piano from a very young age. When her home country breaks out in war, Teresa travels to America with her family. Shocked by the same outrage in our country, she feels further and further away from home. Upon learning about the loss of President Lincoln's son, Teresa knows her music will help and realizes that music is a way to unite all people. Not letting her nerves get the best of her, Teresa performs President Lincoln's favorite song and brings joy to a grieving family. Teresa learns about the importance of music, and how it can unite us no matter our differences. This book would be appropriate to read-aloud with either 3rd or 4th graders because of the amount of text on each page and the complexity of the illustrations. An idea for how to use this book in classroom instruction could be a unit that incorporates multiple discipline areas into the content such as music, history, and reading/writing. This could be used in a lesson on immigration, and be an inclusive way to represent ELL students or students from immigrant families in the classroom. It could be used as a read-aloud to give students a real-world situation for any of these topics. This book could also be used by a Specials Teacher in music class with students to incorporate literature into a Specials class. Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln was a WOW! book for me because of the descriptive text that featured a multitude of metaphors and the detailed illustrations that captivated my attention. This book is also an inclusive book that touched on the lives of immigrants and can be relatable for ELL students. I also appreciated the loving message behind this story that music is a way to unite people and that we all understand music.
February 4, 2021
I found this book while looking through the recent winners of the Pura Belpré award. It won in 2020 for it's illustrations and it is easy to see why with just a quick glance at the cover of this book.
This book tells the story of a young refugee from Venezuela named Teresa Carreño. She was a talented pianist and brought joy to the country during the Civil War when there wasn't always much joy to find. The illustrations in this book truly bring all of it's events to life. The way the illustrator worked the pictures in with the words is breathtaking. There are so many slight details in each illustration that I'm sure I could read this 100 times and find something new each time.
This book would be an amazing tool to teach figurative language! The descriptive words are incredible and create a new picture in your mind with each turning page. I would use this book in upper elementary for this purpose, as I remember specifically how difficult it is to teach the abstract concept of figurative language to 4th/5th grade ELLs!
This book also includes many important pieces of history as it tells the story of a real life pianist and her relation to former president Abraham Lincoln. This could also be used to integrate history and reading!
This book tells the story of a young refugee from Venezuela named Teresa Carreño. She was a talented pianist and brought joy to the country during the Civil War when there wasn't always much joy to find. The illustrations in this book truly bring all of it's events to life. The way the illustrator worked the pictures in with the words is breathtaking. There are so many slight details in each illustration that I'm sure I could read this 100 times and find something new each time.
This book would be an amazing tool to teach figurative language! The descriptive words are incredible and create a new picture in your mind with each turning page. I would use this book in upper elementary for this purpose, as I remember specifically how difficult it is to teach the abstract concept of figurative language to 4th/5th grade ELLs!
This book also includes many important pieces of history as it tells the story of a real life pianist and her relation to former president Abraham Lincoln. This could also be used to integrate history and reading!
March 7, 2020
The story of Teresa Carreño, a child prodigy who played piano for Abraham Lincoln.
As a little girl, Teresa Carreño loved to let her hands dance across the beautiful keys of the piano. If she felt sad, music cheered her up, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share that joy. Soon she was writing her own songs and performing in grand cathedrals. Then a revolution in Venezuela forced her family to flee to the United States. Teresa felt lonely in this unfamiliar place, where few of the people she met spoke Spanish. Worst of all, there was fighting in her new home, too—the Civil War.
Still, Teresa kept playing, and soon she grew famous as the talented Piano Girl who could play anything from a folk song to a sonata. So famous, in fact, that President Abraham Lincoln wanted her to play at the White House! Yet with the country torn apart by war, could Teresa’s music bring comfort to those who needed it most?
As a little girl, Teresa Carreño loved to let her hands dance across the beautiful keys of the piano. If she felt sad, music cheered her up, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share that joy. Soon she was writing her own songs and performing in grand cathedrals. Then a revolution in Venezuela forced her family to flee to the United States. Teresa felt lonely in this unfamiliar place, where few of the people she met spoke Spanish. Worst of all, there was fighting in her new home, too—the Civil War.
Still, Teresa kept playing, and soon she grew famous as the talented Piano Girl who could play anything from a folk song to a sonata. So famous, in fact, that President Abraham Lincoln wanted her to play at the White House! Yet with the country torn apart by war, could Teresa’s music bring comfort to those who needed it most?
September 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this book for a few reasons. The first being that I had no idea that such a young girl performed for Lincoln, I think that is very special. The second being that I loved the figurative language used throughout the whole book. It kept me engaged in the story and kept my mind on track. One of my favorite lines is near the end of the book and it says, "Music swirled, twirled, and soared on wings of sound." I like this line because it shows how powerful music is and the ability it has to help people. Lincoln was going through a hard time after losing his son and Teresa was able to help him with her music which I think it very powerful. Finally, I thought that the illustrations were really good and vibrant. I was always interested to see the next page and look at the picture. I would recommend this story to others because it has a good message about believing in yourself and overcoming the hard times.
March 9, 2020
What a lovely book! Well deserves to win the Pura Belpre illustrator award! This adds to the library’s rather slight holdings in music so I’m very pleased by this! This book can be pulled out for Hispanic month and women’s history month. It can be added to any display on music or a general one on the arts. It can be used for gifted children’s displays since she was only 10 when she played for President Lincoln and his family. I’m sure some thought would bring other uses for this bright versatile book! This was a pleasure to read. I cannot see it being used for preschool story time but I could see reading this to 3rd -6th grade classes. Highly recommended!
May 7, 2020
This book is a Pura Belpré Award winner.
It tells the story of Teresa Carreño who had to leave Venezuela. She is later invited to play for President Lincoln! This book intrigued me to learn more about Teresa Carreño. It is a great book to use for Hispanic Heritage Month with any grade level. The illustrations are beautiful and demonstrate Teresita's feelings. The first person that I watched do the read-aloud had the book positioned oddly that it looked like he was reading it backwards and he kept interrupting his own reading for comments. However, he read the book fluently. I found another reading and she could have practiced reading it first.
It tells the story of Teresa Carreño who had to leave Venezuela. She is later invited to play for President Lincoln! This book intrigued me to learn more about Teresa Carreño. It is a great book to use for Hispanic Heritage Month with any grade level. The illustrations are beautiful and demonstrate Teresita's feelings. The first person that I watched do the read-aloud had the book positioned oddly that it looked like he was reading it backwards and he kept interrupting his own reading for comments. However, he read the book fluently. I found another reading and she could have practiced reading it first.
April 26, 2021
In this colorful, eventful biography, you follow Teresa Carreno, a child prodigy through her life playing the piano. From her home in Venezuela, Teresa and her family were forced to flee due to a revolution. She finds herself in the United States during the Civil War. Amid the fighting, she finds herself homesick and feeling as though she doesn’t fit in with the Americans. Through the power of music and her piano skills, Teresa finds her way, and even plays for one of the most important people of the time period.
I think this would be a perfect read aloud book for middle elementary students. I think this could be used to introduce a lesson on the civil war. I think this could also be used for students to do a research project on historical figures.
This was a WOW book for me because of how engaging and beautiful the story was. The illustrations, the detailed descriptions, and the heartwarming tale of a Venezulan pianist’s life creates this must read children’s book!
I think this would be a perfect read aloud book for middle elementary students. I think this could be used to introduce a lesson on the civil war. I think this could also be used for students to do a research project on historical figures.
This was a WOW book for me because of how engaging and beautiful the story was. The illustrations, the detailed descriptions, and the heartwarming tale of a Venezulan pianist’s life creates this must read children’s book!
January 30, 2020
About Teresa a child pianist prodigy, whose family fled to America to escape war. In 1863, when she was ten, she was invited to the White House to play for the Lincolns.
The story basically covers her first 10 years, but the Historical Note goes further stating how she only returned to Venezuela once because of her county-men's disapproval of her independent spirit that caused her to divorce 3 times before finding happiness with her fourth husband. Her renown as a composer, opera singer and one of the best pianists of her time are also mentioned. She is remembered as "La Leona ("The Lioness") of the piano."
The story basically covers her first 10 years, but the Historical Note goes further stating how she only returned to Venezuela once because of her county-men's disapproval of her independent spirit that caused her to divorce 3 times before finding happiness with her fourth husband. Her renown as a composer, opera singer and one of the best pianists of her time are also mentioned. She is remembered as "La Leona ("The Lioness") of the piano."
March 11, 2021
Young Teresa Carreno learned how to play the piano from her father and was a piano prodigy in her native Venezuela before having to flee the country during a civil war and come to America during ours. She continued her rise in fame for a few years before getting the call from the President. Lincoln's son Tad had just died, and he and his family had not yet gotten over their grief, but in her own small way, Teresa helped him forget his pain for a few brief moments and enjoy the music. The book features a small biography of the girl inspired by the verses in the book. I had never heard of her before, so good on Margarita Engle for introducing me to another Latinx historical figure, and I really enjoyed the book. Recommended for ages 8-12, 4 stars.
March 14, 2022
What a beautiful story! Both literary and visually. Not at all surprised that this book got a Pura Belpré award. The story of Teresa Carreño is amazing, and the connection to Abraham Lincoln was really interesting (especially exciting for our Illinois patrons who go crazy for Lincoln). The illustrations throughout the book are truly breathtaking and the bright and vibrant watercolor style is so unique. The message gave me goosebumps at the end. The idea that music can comfort people in moments of grief and sadness was so so beautiful. Highly recommend. (Will be forcing my friends and family to read this.)
March 23, 2020
Multiple award winner, Margarita Engle, has written a story about how child prodigy played the piano for President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. When a revolution drove her family from Venezuela to the US, the child, Teresa Carreno, had a hard time adjusting to a new life and language but her music gave her hope! When President Lincoln heard about her music, he invited her to play at the White House. Yet she wondered if she could bring comfort to the US leader during a time of war? Exceptional illustrations by Rafael Lopez highlight the text through mixed media: acrylic on wood board, with watercolor paint, pen, ink, and construction paper, assembled digitally. An important story, winner of the 2020 Pura Belpre Illustrator Award, recommended for readers, ages 5-10.
January 20, 2024
Beautifully illustrated children’s book telling the story of a female pianist from Venezuela in the 1800s who was invited to play for president Lincoln.
As a pianist myself, with a bachelors degree in music I had never heard of her. Which isn’t unusual as often it is male composers and performers that we are taught about in our education system. So I was grateful to find this gem.
As a pianist myself, with a bachelors degree in music I had never heard of her. Which isn’t unusual as often it is male composers and performers that we are taught about in our education system. So I was grateful to find this gem.
February 19, 2021
I enjoyed this book a lot. I thought it had very captivating illustrations and that young readers would be inspired about how a young girl could play music for the president and bring people together through music.
March 8, 2020
Young girl from Venezuela becomes great pianist in NYC, plays for Lincoln. True Story - Civil War, WW1 both referenced. Beautiful illustrations and descriptions of music.
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