Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

By Susan Hood

Book Overview

From award-winning author Susan Hood and illustrator Sally Wern Comport comes the extraordinary true tale of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay, an orchestra made up of children playing instruments built from recycled trash. Ada R os grew up in Cateura, a small town in Paraguay built on a landfill. She dreamed of playing the violin, but with little money for anything but the bare essentials, it was never an option...until a music teacher named Favio Ch vez arrived. He wanted to give the children of Cateura something special, so he made them instruments out of materials found in the trash. It was a crazy idea, but one that would leave Ada--and her town--forever changed. Now, the Recycled Orchestra plays venues around the world, spreading their message of hope and innovation.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1481430955
• ISBN13: 9781481430951
• Release Date: May 2016
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.3" x 10.2"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Engaging Interactive Read Aloud for Students

This extraordinary book came to life in so many ways! My 5th grade students were introduced to new vocabulary words. I was able to incorporate several reading strategies using this book. A few of them were theme, point of view, and context clues. I don't recall the book giving Ada's age, however, my students inferred that she was around their age. Students watched a 60 Minutes Segment to help reenforce the fact that this was a true story based on real life events. It also helped them learn about a different culture. I purchased this book as a read aloud for the month of April and the observance of Earth Day. Students had a discussion on the importance of the 3R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Therefore, our after reading activity involved students creating a pan flute using straws. Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay is appropriate reading material for everyone!