The Boy Who Said Wow

by Todd Boss, Rashin Kheiriyeh (Illustrator)

Inspired by the beautiful true story of a nonverbal boy moved to speech at his first Mozart concert, this picture book is a testament to the power of art and the boundless joy it can bring.

When Grandfather comes to take his grandson to a concert, Ronan is quiet as they leave the house, quiet in the car, and quiet at the concert hall. But when the performance is over and the beautiful music fades out at last, Ronan opens his mouth…and lets out a great big WOW!

Not any old WOW, but Ronan’s very first WOW! That one word fills up the hearts of Ronan’s family, the musicians, the audience, and—when the recording goes viral—the world.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Childrens, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Nonfiction, Family, Inspirational

40 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

Todd Boss, a critically-acclaimed poet, librettist, public artist, and film producer, holds a diverse career with a passion for collaboration. His works for both page and stage have been read and produced throughout the world.

Boss’s 2008 poetry debut Yellowrocket was followed by Pitch in 2012, Tough Luck in 2017, and Someday the Plan of a Town, , all from W. W. Norton & Co. Todd’s poems have appeared in Poetry, American Poetry Review, The London Times, The New Yorker, NPR, Best American Poetry, and Virginia Quarterly Review, which called Yellowrocket, “one of the year’s 10 best poetry books” and awarded Todd the Emily Clark Balch Prize. Yellowrocket was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award and was named a Midwest Booksellers’ Honor Book for Poetry. Pitch was also a Minnesota Book Award finalist and won the Midwest Booksellers’ Choice Award.

With a strong sensitivity to the marriage of words and music, Todd has worked closely with composers as a librettist and lyricist. His first evening-length opera, Panic, a verse retelling of Knut Hamsun’s 1896 novella Pan and collaboration with Boston Conservatory’s Andy Vores, premiered in 2014. Most frequently, Boss collaborates on libretti for choral and dramatic works with award-winning composer Jake Runestad. Together, Todd and Jake have written commissioned works for the Choral Arts Society of Washington D.C., the Dallas Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, the Larimer Chorale & Orchestra, Cal State Long Beach, and others. Their collaborations have been heard around the world at venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, and Minneapolis’s Orchestra Hall.

Deeply interested in allowing anyone to encounter meaningful art, Todd is also a public artist. In a 2012 public art installation, Todd anchored 35 oversized life rings in the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis to mark the 5th anniversary of the 35W Bridge collapse. He paired the month-long installation with his 35-poem cycle, “Fragments for the 35W Bridge,” which the Star Tribune printed in its entirety on opening day. The project was a collaboration with Swedish artist Maja Spasova. Todd’s second installation, a monumental poetry film projection onto the entire block-wide facade of Saint Paul’s historic Union Depot, had its debut in October 2014. In 2017, he unveiled the world’s first public transit virtual reality experience with “Chaos on the Green Line,” a wordless VR poem that can only be experienced on the Green Line LRT train in Saint Paul, using the “Chaos on the Green Line” app and a cardboard viewer.

Todd’s passion for helping contemporary poetry reach a wider audience led him to become the founding Executive and Artistic Director of Motionpoems, the world’s only poetry film company. Motionpoems’ annual season of 15-20 films premieres have had showings across the country from Los Angeles to New York City. More at motionpoems.org.

Todd has been a nomad since 2018, living with just two suitcases of belongings and traveling the world. Learn more at toddbossoriginals.com

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be still my heart!! This was good!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a true story.

Ronan, a nonverbal boy, and his grandfather attend a concert at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. There's just something special about live music! The excitement builds as the concert hall fills up with people and music.

“The darker instruments sound cool and frightening.
The lighter instruments sound warm and friendly
Together they sound like a sky full of stars.”

As the notes float off into the night, silence settles over the crowd. Until a bright, clear WOW! is heard. Ronan’s first “wow” in fact. Now the audience is clapping for Ronan and the orchestra.

Both the text and art capture the power of music and the enthusiasm of one little boy. It’s beautiful. The pages are timeless. I wish there was a bit of Boston in the art, but maybe it’s better to feel like this magic can take place anywhere and everywhere.

A sweet story to read again and again.

[Mai M Ibrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

تحفة 🥹
والأحلى لما قرأت ف آخر الكتاب أنها عن قصة حقيقية
عن ولد عنده توحد راح الأوبرا لأول مرة مع جده وبعد الفرقة م خلصت عزف قال واااو بصوت عالي الناس كلها سمعته
ومن حسن الحظ ان ده استجل ع الراديو وف فيديوهات ليه ع اليوتيوب 🥹
الكتاب صغير والرسومات ف منتهى اللطافة
هصوره من جوا وهحطه ستوري دلوقتي ع انستجرام لو حد حابب يبص عليه👇
@mai.designer92

[Patricia Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED THIS! The authors note made me tear up. Here is the link to the "WOW" https://youtu.be/ZetePo1VhYo?si=r8PK1...
(which led to some more tears)

[Deke Moulton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just so eh to me?

I think it’s always going to be difficult to take what is a meme and turn it into a book. What makes it more difficult is that this is a real life boy, who is nonverbal, and it’s basically turning it into some form of “inspiration.”

But even the oomph of the original viral video rests upon the knowledge that an audience is silent in between songs… which I didn’t know and the book never mentions. I only knew this wow mattered or was impactful /because/ concert silence was emphasized in viral videos.

This would have been simply resolved if the grandpa had merely thought to himself — I don’t have to remind my grandson to be quiet during the orchestra… he is already so quiet.

It’s also weird how the parents think it will be “a disaster” if this autistic boy goes to the orchestra… 😬 So it feels kind of ableist mixed with inspiration porn, without even the background information to inform why this WOW went viral in the first place.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely, simple picture book retelling the true story of a boy with mutism who attended a concert with his grandfather. He was so moved, in the silence following the orchestra's end his 'Wow' reverberated throughout the concert hall.

I loved the way the grandfather treated his grandson as though mutism was 'normal'. He didn't care that his grandson wasn't a talker, the book clearly shows that he just loved his grandson and enjoyed spending time with him.
I also loved how the boy's parents responded with their own 'wow's at the end.

Young children probably won't get much out of this, but by the same token there isn't anything inappropriate for the preschool audience. I'd say that ages 8+ would get the most out of this, and could be used if they have a schoolmate with autism or even used in a music class (especially before going to see an orchestra) to demonstrate the power of music.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: "What a beautiful morning," says Father. "Shall we go to the beach?" Ronan is quiet. "What a lovely afternoon," says Mother. "Shall we go to the park?" Ronan is quiet.

Premise/plot: Ronan is nonverbal. But after his family takes him to a musical concert, they are wowed along with the world by his WOW. It is inspired by a true story, true events that occurred in 2019. It was a viral moment.

My thoughts: Music can be MOVING and speak to the soul. Such appears to be the case in this picture book inspired by a true story. I found the story charming. I definitely enjoyed it.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the true story of a little boy named Ronan, The Boy Who Said Wow gives us neurodivergence representation in the form of a children's picture book. Born nonverbal, Ronan is known as a quiet child until his grandfather takes him to the Symphony Hall. After the performance he utters the word "Wow" and everyone around him is delighted. Well illustrated from start to finish and a story that shows acceptance of all, The Boy Who Said Wow would make a great addition to any young readers bookcase.

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy to review.

[Sue.the.very.busy.reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to be honest, I think The Boy Who Said WOW appealed more to me than my young reading buddies. This book touches my heart because I have a granddaughter who is somewhat nonverbal. She loves music. Listening to dance music is one of her favorite things to do.
So I could see how the little boy Ronan could react while listening to the Boston Symphony. It is such a beautiful story and the illustrations are gorgeous. Thank you Ollie @every.100.pages for recommending this book to me. I really enjoyed it.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book on a unique topic: a boy Ronan who lives in a family with verbose outspoken family members. And yet he is a very quiet boy. In this story, the boy and his grandfather attend the symphony. As they're driving to the symphony, grandfather is talk, talk, talking. When they get to the symphony, Ronan notice how noisy the city is. However, what Ronan does not find "too noisy" is the music of the symphony.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful story that captures the amazing beauty of a symphony. Ronan is completely quiet and speaks few words. His grandfather takes him to hear an orchestra. Readers see Ronan feel the music and become part of the experience. When it finishes, he says one word loudly - Wow! The audience and orchestra applaud and celebrate too.
Based on a real event.
Boss captures this family's experience and the joy when Ronan speaks and shares what he is feeling.

[Binxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful true story of a non-verbal child that attended a performance at Boston Symphony Hall. At the conclusion of the concert, while the hall was all quiet, he uttered, "WOW!" heard by everyone. A limited palette of using black, white, shades of gray, and red, are the perfect addition to the text of this sweet story.

[Holly Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this true story on CBS Sunday Morning and knew I had to get the book. It's wonderful - I really enjoyed the art. Ronan exudes the kind of joy that Gus Walz just expressed when he yelled, "That's my dad!" at the DNC. I'm thinking Gus has a similar disability as Ronan. I love the emotions that the music inspired in Ronan!

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a special story. As the mother of a boy with Autism who has loved the symphony since he was a baby, this book moved me deeply. His Papa was even the one to introduce him to the symphony. I read this to my son, who is mostly verbal, and even though he didn't say it, I know he loved hearing the story of a boy with Autism who loves the symphony as much as he does. This book is a treasure.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about a nonverbal boy who is taken to his first symphony concert and speaks his first word due to the amazement of what he has just experienced.

Great for delving into themes of the power of music, neurodiversity, emotional expression, family support, art as a bridge, and being your authentic self. Based on a true event.

[Jj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fictionalized account of a true story about a nonverbal child who spoke out loudly and enthusiastically at a musical performance with a resounding, "WOW!" and received a warm response in person and later online.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired by a heartwarming true story of a nonverbal boy moved to speak at his first Mozart concert. The text in the story is suitably sparse, but the illustrations are emphatic and filled with color. Good onomatopoeia rounds out the experience. An unusual picture book full of heart.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

After seeing a news piece about this young boy at the symphony, I started hunting for the book.

A lovely story, with lovely illustrations. Ronan spoke out loud what many people feel after hearing an amazing musical performance - WOW.

[Nan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet book, a true story. A nonverbal boy goes to the orchestra with his grandfather and is so moved that at the end he says wow. Apparently there’s a video of it. Minimal color, but energetic drawings, maybe good for a small moment writing.

[Dena Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book! The illustrations are gorgeous and soothing. The writing is spare and perfect. Love the pacing. Love grandfather’s reframing of what the parents see as a risk and a challenge as an adventure. Beautiful on so many levels!

[Miss Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a true story that happened in 2019 at the Boston Symphony Hall. A young boy that is nonverbal goes to the symphony with his grandfather. After the performance of a beautiful piece and in the silence he says, "Wow!"

[Xpiotiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gave me goosebumps and there isn't even any actual music coming from the book. HA. Amazing!

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book celebrates the power of music and different forms of communication. It's also one of the few portrayals I've seen of a child who is nonverbal in a picture book.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired by the true story of a nonverbal 9-year-old boy and the symphony that inspired him to say one touching, important word: "WOW!"

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story. You can video news stories on what happened if you Google the book title.

[Caroline Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet story and beautiful illustrations! Definitely read the author’s note at the end, it’s so touching!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Music touches everyone! A simple story about a grandfather taking his grandson to the symphony. A predominantly nonverbal child exclaims "Wow", when a concert ends. Happiness is found in moments.

[Viviana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.9 stars

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inflating my reading challenge stats with a kids book that was absolutely wonderful with really lovely illustrations

[AL Pierce Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The boy does not speak but is so amazed when he goes to a Mozart concert.

Teaches about instruments, being nonverbal, and emotions about music.