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The First Notes

The Story of Do, Re, Mi

The First Notes Open the full-size image

Contributors

By Julie Andrews

By Emma Walton Hamilton

Illustrated by Chiara Fedele

Formats and Prices

Price

$18.99

Price

$23.99 CAD

Format

Hardcover

Format:

Hardcover $18.99 $23.99 CAD

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Featuring the illustrated lyrics to “Do-Re-Mi”, this stunning new picture book from beloved icon Julie Andrews and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, introduces readers to the remarkable story of the development of written music. Also includes an author’s note about Julie Andrews’s connection to the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein song!

Centuries ago, a young Italian monk named Guido longed to find a way to write and teach music. Eventually, he created the musical scale, using the words Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Ti-Do…one syllable for each note. Though the other monks thought it was a waste of time, Guido's music couldn't be silenced. His discovery remains the foundation for learning music today, and inspired the famous song “Do-Re-Mi,” which Julie Andrews sang in the beloved movie The Sound of Music.

This richly illustrated picture book from beloved icon Julie Andrews and her daughter, bestselling author Emma Walton Hamilton, introduces readers to the remarkable story of Guido d’Arezzo’s development of musical notation. In addition to the lyrics of "Do-Re-Mi" illustrated in full color, the backmatter includes an author’s note, extensive historical notes, and a glossary.

Genre:

  • * "A charming collaboration that strikes just the right notes."
    Kirkus Reviews
  • * "Gentle yet expressive illustrations pay tribute to these accomplishments with square patterns, illuminated manuscripts, and other cultural details from the time period. Note-able, indeed!"
    Booklist
  • "Andrews and Hamilton’s step-by-step prose, and Fedele’s colored pencil, gouache, and watercolor illustrations of vibrant Italian landscapes…successfully combine to evoke strong emotions around Guido’s eventual success."
    Publishers Weekly

On Sale
Nov 1, 2022
Page Count
48 pages
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13
9780316265904

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Julie Andrews

About the Author

Julie Andrews has a legendary career that encompasses the Broadway and London stages, as well as multiple films, television shows, album releases, concert tours, directing assignments, and the world of children’s publishing. In 2000 the title of Dame Commander of the British Empire was bestowed upon her by Queen Elizabeth II for lifetime achievements in the arts and humanities. She was married to film director Blake Edwards for forty-one years, and the couple have five children, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She invites you to visit her online at @julieandrews on both Instagram and Twitter.

Emma Walton Hamilton is an award-winning writer, producer, and arts educator. Together with her mother, Julie Andrews, she has written over thirty-five books for children and young adults, including the New York Times bestselling Very Fairy Princess series, Waiting in the Wings, and The First Notes: The Story of Do, Re, Mi. Her first book of poetry, Door to Door, was published in 2022. Emma is a longtime faculty member of Stony Brook University’s MFA in Creative Writing and invites you to visit her online at @ewhamilton on both Instagram and Twitter.

EG Keller is the illustrator of many books, including the New York Times #1 bestseller A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo and Bravo star Emilia Bechrakis Serhant’s To the Moon and Back for You. He also wrote and illustrated Murray Christmas and Please Please the Bees, which won the 2017 Frances and Wesley Bock Book Award. He lives in Denver, Colorado and invites you to visit him online at egkellerdraws.com or @egkellerdraws on Instagram.
 

Learn more about this author

Emma Walton Hamilton

About the Author

Learn more about this author