Claude Debussy: First Discovery – Music    by Pierre Babin & Charlotte Voake Order:  USA  Can Moonlight, 2012 (2012) Hardcover, CD      Reviewed by Bob Walch Here's an excellent way to introduce children ages seven and older to classical music. A combination of vintage photos and illustrations accompany an interesting text that highlights some of the important events in Claude Debussy's early life. After a difficult childhood, the young boy eventually lived for a while by the sea with relatives. It was here that he fell in love with nature and the varied moods of the ocean. By the age of ten, Claude had started playing the piano and he earned a place at the Paris Conservatoire. Although a bit of a rebel and sometimes a difficult student, the young musician excelled and by the age of 22 he won the highest award of all, the Prix de Rome. The second part of this book contains a bit of information about some of Debussy's signature compositions such as Clair de Lune, some of his chamber music, the opera Pelleas and Melisande, and the famed orchestral work entitled La Mer. A CD accompanies the book and offers the reader a chance to hear some of Debussy's famous music. This is part of a series of biographies, in which you'll find other books on the lives of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Mozart, as well as six other composers. An attractive presentation, this book also includes sidebars with suggested activities and tidbits about Debussy and classical music. You'll also find at the bottom of each two page spread a small, red, numbered box that lists the composition that accompanies the narration on the CD. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews