The Trumpet of the Swan

by E.B. White

Book Overview

The delightful classic by E. B. White, author of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, about overcoming obstacles and the joy of music. Like the rest of his family, Louis is a trumpeter swan. But unlike... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0590406191
• Release Date: January 1970
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
• Length: 214 Pages
• Weight: 1.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 7.4"

Customer Reviews

Not as pictured, not "Like New"

Deep writing indentations on the front cover and dog-eared. Different front cover picture.

Beautifully written and engaging for kids [especially boys]

The wonderful funny and romantic [in the true sense] tale of Louis the swan. E.B. White is the master of telling the story of a journey of self-discovery on a child's level. Not scary or dark, but challenging and rewarding. And with thanks, oh so well written!

Wonderful story. Keeps kids involved chapter to chapter.

Each night we read a chapter. My granddaughter age 7 was enthralled and could relate the evolution of the story. She loves "chapter" books and this is beautifully written.

Very touching, teaches and entertains

A wonderful story that teaches kids about individuality. The message that comes through says even though no one is perfect, they can find their own voice in the world. This is a story of courage, honesty, redemption, and most of all, love. I was touched by Louis' determination to repay his father's debt and impressed with his strength and character. Kids and adults will love this classic by E.B White and it makes a great addition to your collection. "The Trumpet of the Swan" has my highest recommendation because it teaches as it entertains.

Music Makes it Even Better

Buy this one! We borrowed this tape from the library for a long car trip and loved it so much that we bought it as soon as we got home -- my husband, our 4 kids (ages 3-8) and I all really enjoyed the recording. This story is wonderful. The recorded versions are read by the author and include excellent trumpet music, as if Louie were playing to you! I bought the CD thinking my children could enjoy the book without the littlest one ruining it. My older kids have complained that they prefer tapes that let you pick up where you left off.

No trumpet for this swan

Louis is a trumpeter swan. He is born one summer on a little pond in Canada, along with four brothers and sisters. But Louis has a terrible problem. Unlike the rest of his joyfully noisy family, Louis can't make a single sound. And without a trumpet sound, his true love--the beautiful swan Serena--just ignores him. Louis's father promises to help. So does Sam Beaver, a boy who loves all wild animals. First Louis goes to school with Sam and learns to read and write. But swans can't read, so Louis still can't make himself understood. That's when Louis's father puts his honor aside and steals a brass trumpet to give his son a voice. Louis's determination to pay off his father's debt to woo his own true love takes him far from the wilderness he loves. But his faith and his joy in life are always with him.

Trumpet of the Swan

If you like swans and adventure, I would highly recommend this book. It is about a boy about 11 years old and Louis, a trumpeter swan who, sadly, has no voice. He needs help because he is in love with Serena, a beautiful female swan, and needs to communicate with her. So Louis flies to Sam's house to go to school and learn to read and write. Louis can't communicate with his own family (they can't read). So his dutiful father steals a real brass trumpet for him. Louis feels very compelled to repair and repay the store from which his father took the trumpet. In the process, Louis takes you out on an exciting adventure to the public gardens and Swan Boats of Boston, the Philadelphia Zoo and more. This is a fun story you'll really enjoy!

One of the finest children's books ever written

Often overlooked in favor of CHARLOTTE'S WEB (and probably STUART LITTLE, what with the film coming out), THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN is an unforgettable, poetic and deeply moving story of love, friendship, and most importantly, coming to terms with a disability. I read this book as a child, and years later, can appriciate it on a whole new level. Years after I read this book, I was diagnosed with fine and gross motor disabilities, which made tasks like handwriting very difficult for me. Thanks to computers and the like, I have been able to surpass this problem- and am now actually pursuing an English Major in college. One of the things that helped me over the years was thinking back to this book, with its story of Louis the mute swan, whose father commits a crime to give him a trumpet to let his voice be heard and live some semblance of a normal life- and how Louis, in a quest to repay the world for his father's crime, manages to win the heart of his great love and gain world-wide fame. Written in White's own simple yet profound prose (this is the co-author of THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE, after all), no one who reads this book will ever forget it. This book literally changed my life- buy a copy, and let it change someone else's life as well.