Can You Hear It?

It is a fact that my nephews are the cutest and smartest little boys on the planet. This has been proven.

Anyway, my sister-in-law was telling me about a book that she read to the oldest nephew (he's four). She forgot the title of it and had to go back and look it up, but it is called Can You Hear It? and is published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I had the local library system send it to me, and it is so great!

This book is arranged around thirteen pieces of classical music that come on a CD inserted in the front cover of the book; the text is questions and prompts about the music and the accompanying art prints. It is didactic in nature, designed to invite small children to listen carefully to the music and make connections between music and art.

Generally, books like this get on my nerves—I mean the ones that are specifically designed to be used as a lesson. Not only are they usually inane and patronizing, they are also badly written and boring.

Not so with Can You Hear It? The music choices were both sophisticated and kid-friendly, and the art was, well, from the Met. I wasn't overly impressed with the Met when I was actually there, with the exception of the Modern exhibit (I really like Marc Chagall!), but it must have been because I was tired from sleeping in a crooked bed and walking all over Manhattan in the snow. That, and I had some lingering annoyance from the pigeons who kept trying to steal my hot dog on the steps of the museum.

All that aside, the art was good. Much like the music, it was sophisticated but still accessible to children.

Some people have expressed the opinion that people who like children's books lack maturity. I find the opposite to be true.

It is my opinion that most of the greatest stuff (art, music, universal truth) is accessible to children. Some of it is created specifically for them. I feel very strongly against watering things down for the little ones, and the book just confirmed my opinion. Expose them to great stuff in its simplicity, and they will appreciate it.

Proof? My four-year-old nephew loved it. But like I said before, he's pretty great himself.