Nothing: John Cage and 4'33"

by Nicholas Day, Chris Raschka (Illustrator)

What does nothing sound like? An offbeat history of John Cage’s 4’33”, a musical composition of blank bars, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka.

One night in 1952, master pianist David Tudor took the stage in a barnlike concert hall called the Maverick. A packed audience waited with bated breath for him to start playing. Little did they know that the performance had already begun.

A rain patters.
A tree rustles.
An audience stirs.

David was performing John Cage’s 4’33”, whose purpose is to amplify the ambient sounds of whatever venue it inhabits. That shocking first performance earned 4’33” plenty of haters; and yet the piece endures, “performed” by the smallest garage bands and the grandest symphonies alike, year after year. Its fans hear what John Cage hoped we would hear: “Nothing” is never silent, and you don’t need a creative genius, a concert hall, or even a piano to hear something worthwhile. All you have to do is stop and listen.

Nicholas Day’s text is reverent with a healthy drop of humor, warm and refined; two-time Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka’s childlike pencil-on-watercolor artwork is uninhibited and electrifying, with all the visionary spirit of the work it chronicles. Guaranteed to spark generative thought and lively debate among readers of all ages, Nothing is not to be missed.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Childrens, Art

40 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

Nicholas Day is the author of The Mona Lisa Vanishes, illustrated by Brett Helquist, winner of the Robert F. Sibert Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for nonfiction; A World Without Summer, illustrated by Yas Imamura; and Nothing: John Cage and 4’33”, illustrated by Chris Raschka. For adults, he’s the author of Baby Meets World, a work about the science and history of infancy, which Mary Roach called “a perfect book.” He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, with his family.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never heard of 4'33" before. I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book quite as much as I did, but it's the best kids' non-fiction book I've read in a good long while. I usually just skim kids' non-fiction books that come into the library, but I was gripped by this one. Incredibly well told, flashing in between the performance and John Cage's biographical story. Awesome illustrations, quirky without being unclear, the brilliant use of the "nothing" pages. A book can't be 4'33", but this one does an extraordinary job of creating pauses for readers to just sit with the story and take it all in. I read all the notes in the back. Riveted.

Going on my best of 2024 list. Highly recommended for picture book lovers and kids' non-fiction lovers. This would be a fun one to follow up with one of the recorded performances of 4'33", and maybe perform your own.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection.

“So we make our lives by what we love.” —John Cage

[Eija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this.

I love how accessible this picture book is— and the structure of the performance of 4’33 intertwined with narrative background info about John Cage. Cool little nonfiction book.

I also think this would be an excellent book to segue into quiet time and ask a child what they hear when they to play 4’33 by themselves. (Might be a very short quiet time)

I’m so glad this book was made!

[Cheryl Gladfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Excellent look at this particular piece of music, interspaced with info about John Cage's life. Not only was it interesting to read, the presentation (layout, art, fonts) was gorgeous. It went so well together as a cohesive piece. I don't always notice that in all picture books, but it really stood out to me for this one.

I also really loved the back matter and found it very helpful. Did you know there's a 4'33'' app so you can make your own recording of what you hear?

[Natalie Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Melissa Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

The genius of 4’ 33! Mom and 7 year old both loved.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful nonfiction picture book about the composer John Cage, the musician David Tudor and the famous musical composition 4'33". This book does a great job describing Tudor's performance and the reasoning behind John Cage's creation. A useful book to include in units about composers and musicians, as well as lessons involving careful listening. Don't miss the additional information about John Cage at the back of the book!

"And every time, the audience hears something different. They hear whatever there is to hear in that moment."

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine attending a concert in which the performer sat quietly at the piano or behind a guitar or other instrument and did nothing. That's exactly what happened when pianist David Tudor remained silently at his piano for four minutes and thirty-three seconds, introducing composer John Cage's latest composition, which consisted of no notes, just blank sheet music with Cage's signature at the bottom. How would you have reacted? Would you have felt enlightened or be annoyed that you spent good money only to hear no notes played on the piano as expected? What would you hear in that silence that really isn't completely silent? The concept was--and still is--quite bold and daring, allowing the audience and whatever makes sounds around them to become the performance piece itself. With energy, verve, and flair, the text captures those unique moments and repeats the word "nothing" to drive home the point that nothing does have sounds. It also manages to capture the unique creative spirit that was John Cage, including some background information about his formative years and creative process. The artwork, created with watercolor, pencil, and ink, pays tribute to Cage's genius and originality in humorous fashion. One double-page spread consists solely of whispery pastels and the single word "nothing" scrawled in cursive across both pages, effectively providing a space for readers to think before turning the pages. Young readers are undoubtedly going to be interested in arguing how to define music and whether silence is music, and some may even go so far as to consider whether the same concept could be applied to art. A lengthy "About John Cage" feature in the back matter as well as photos and a bibliography offer more information for those who are intrigued by this topic and Cage himself. This is a great addition for a collection of books about musicians or original thinkers.

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing is one of those books that you’d love to read to a classroom of kids. To see the wheels turn. To understand what composer John Cage is suggesting. There are so many jumping off points for learning: What is music? What sounds do you hear when asked to listen for 4 minutes and 33 seconds? What is silence? Why did the artist choose to illustrate this book in this way? The possibilities are endless.

Beyond that, Nicholas Day’s text is light and funny and a joy to read aloud. His pauses allow for readers to think, to fully absorb what they are learning. His text paired with two-time Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka’s pencil-on-watercolor artwork are perfection. Raschka’s almost childlike illustrations help convey the intention behind Cage’s piece.

Nothing would make a great addition to a home or school library.

[Scott Baxter]

In 1952, a pianist named David Tudor walked into a barn. The barn is a concert hall named the Maverick in Woodstock, New York. On that day the pianist sits at the piano for four minutes and 33 seconds and does nothing. Day describes the reactions:

Some people in the audience are angry.

We have been tricked, they say. They do not use their inside voices. They write upset letters to the newspaper.

But 4’33” is not a trick.

And as the years pass, it becomes something unexpected.

It becomes a classic. It is performed before thousands of people at concert halls. It is performed in tiny rooms by rock bands.

***

A great picture book for both young readers and adults. The illustrations by @chris.raschka are great.

QOTD: what was the last picture book you enjoyed reading?

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I’d never heard of 4’33”. Alternating between the original performance and John Cage’s biography, readers will come to understand: “There is always a whole world out there to hear. There is always something to hear inside the silence.”

Wonderfully illustrated, the picture book also includes back matter with photos and additional information about John Cage.

Already shared with my elementary music colleague and downloaded the app to listen to 4’33” performances around the world. Highly recommend!

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could you sit in silence for 4 minutes and 33 seconds? What would you hear? That's the premise of John Cage's 4'33", a song that's never the same twice. As I read this, I couldn't help but start hearing Simon & Garfunkel's The Sounds of Silence (which appears to be only 3 minutes and 7 seconds).

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great nonfiction book for all ages about a composer and pianist, set in the 1950’s, and the performance of the composition 4’ 33” - with audience reaction, and a brief biography of the composer. Resonates with me as I’ve been encouraging folks recently to do Listening Meditation for mindfulness, because it can be hard to ‘empty your mind’ and helpful to have sounds to focus on and get the calming and grounding benefits of meditation.

[Stacey Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book about the composer John Cage who composed 4'33" a composition that lasted four minutes and thirty three seconds. The composition was of nothing and the idea was that nothing is ever silent. There are so many questions to explore here and lots of deep things could be discussed. What I would really love to use this book for, would be to explore the idea of paradox!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most fascinating books I've read in the last few months. It introduces reader to the composer John Cage and a piece of music he composed called 4'33. Having never heard of this composer and not being familiar with this composition, it blew my mind a little bit and left me thinking about the composition for days. Very interesting person and great story!

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Every time it is written by the listener. There is always sound in silence. But the composer does not compose those sounds." A fantastic biography of John Cage (featuring pianist David Tutor) that is beautifully written. This is one of my favorite books illustrated by Chris Raschka and the content is such a perfect fit for his art style.

[Claire Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is the absence of music? Pianist and composer John Cage posed the hushed audience gathered to hear him play that same question, when he sat down at his piano and did, well, what the title says: nothing! This book, and the questions John asks his audience, encourage readers to change their perspective on the world around them, and ultimately, truly listen in the absence of music.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Partially a biography of John Cage, though there's more of that in the backmatter. Mostly about 4'33", the response to it immediately and over time, and an invitation to listen to what is around us. (The backmatter did a good job of that, too.)

The diffuseness of the illustrations worked really well for the postmodern feel.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The true story of how, in 1952, composer John Cage challenges audiences by composing a new 4-minute, 33-second piece that contains no musical notes--thereby challenging the listener to observe how much sound exists in silence. Even young readers with absolutely no musical training will be inspired to perform Cage's piece and test his idea for themselves.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I have long thought that this composition was silly. However, given that I am going to try and instill some mindfulness into the insane children that are my students, I may use this for Mock Sibert and then have a debate re: what is music? Could also pull in the music teacher...

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting introduction to John Cage and his famous silent composition. Backmatter gives more information on what Cage was trying to do, the questions he was trying to raise, the influence of Zen and "I Ching" and the anger of the audience.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A narrative nonfiction picture book about the musical piece 4'33" (four minutes and 33 seconds of silence). The book starts with it being performed, then tells more about the composer and meaning. The title and occasional other text is written in cursive.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful illustrations and the importance of listening was well executed

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently paced. Whimsy for all ages and mature bio in back matter.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accessible and fascinating! Betting it will spark lively discussion among young readers.

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book with art inspired by abstract art telling the story of the first performance of John Cage's "4'33"

[Y.Poston]

a very intriguing bio , lovely

[Holly Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a curious thing? I had no idea. So completely unexpected. Nothing. Wow! I’m completely blown away.

Love how well the illustrations fit the story.

What a curious thing. And big ears too.

[Jacqui Busch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really impressed with the art, and the way this subject was introduced to young readers. I even learned something, though I'm an adult who has attended one performance of it.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to tell the story of this famous piece of music
Informative end notes