Petar's Song

by Pratima Mitchell, Caroline Binch (illustrator)

Book by Mitchell, Pratima, Binch, Caroline

28 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Pratima Mitchell was born in India and studied in Delhi, London and the United States. She comes from a family of authors and made her debut as an author at the age of eleven. She has worked as a journalist, editor, waitress and teacher. Nowadays she lives in Oxford (UK).

Reviews

[Alice Nachir · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about the break-out of war, devastation and the need to flee. Petar is a young boy who loves playing music on his violin, and this seems to be at the centre of his world. When the war starts, Petar, his mother, brother and sister leave their valley and cross the border to safety, having to leave their Father behind.

For a while Petar is so upset that he doesn't want to play his violin until his family encourage him and a song of peace comes to into his mind. The peaceful melodies he plays keep spirits high in the new village he is staying in.

Petar's Song is a beautiful picture book full of illustrations and images portraying action and detail. This book would create many opportunities for children to speak and listen to one another, explore their inner feelings, and debate about what they consider to be war and how this would affect them.

I believe this book best suited to KS2 level children although less able readers in years 3 and 4 children may require more discussion for them to grasp the true meaning of the story.

This story would be appropriate for group reading, class reading and even History and PSHE, for example; exploring the effects of war on family life.

[Eleanor West · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family, ripped a part when a war tears through their village, flee to find refuge. Petar the eldest son plays the violin but when separated from his father he struggles to find happiness or reason to play his violin as it reminds him too much of his father. We never know what happens to his father but with time and growing hope, Petar finds happiness and support through playing his violin and creates a song that one day his father will hear.

Though a tale that does not necessarily have a happy ending, the story of Petar and his violin teaches us of hope, strength and family. It teaches us to utilise what we love and are passionate about to take us through our toughest moments. An excellent book for KS2, it would be suitable for PSHE when discussing emotions and what we can utilise to help us. The illustrations are magnificent, colourful and vibrant. The use of colours to portray emotions is very effective in this novel and could therefore be used in art.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful picture book we have read as part of RWI comprehension during refugee week. The images and illustrations are full of actiona and detail. Children had to deduce quite a lot and show their understanding, this was helped by questioning.

The book has created a lot of opportunities for speaking and listening. We've had debates about what exactly constitutes a war and how/If you can change your own mood.

An appropriate refugee storu suitable for all KS2, although less able readers/ Y3 make struggle with some of the words and meanings.