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My Violin Is NOT Broken?: A story of passion, perseverance, and grit
Although many young music students start out enthusiastic, they later reach a point where they realize learning to play an instrument is harder than they imagined!
Intended for anyone who has experienced the weight of wanting to quit anything hard, this book helps kids (and parents!) process those feelings, know they are not alone, and understand what it means to persevere—all in an uplifting story of passion, perseverance, and grit.
A young girl wants to play the violin, but her violin sounds terrible. It groans, shrieks, and whines, leaving her disappointed, frustrated, and downright annoyed. What will it take to make beautiful music?
Readers will relate to The Little Violin Girl’s story as she too, struggles to make her violin sing. With beautiful 'quilted' illustrations, this book is perfect for kids 4-10 and the message is equally beneficial for adults.
Inspired by the author's experiences as both a young violin learner and a parent cheerleader of a young violin learner, this book reminds readers that struggles are okay. It started as a way to help the author's (then 6-year-old) son understand perseverance and add a little more fun to his musical journey.
Learning can be hard. You are not alone. That's why this book was written.
Intended for anyone who has experienced the weight of wanting to quit anything hard, this book helps kids (and parents!) process those feelings, know they are not alone, and understand what it means to persevere—all in an uplifting story of passion, perseverance, and grit.
A young girl wants to play the violin, but her violin sounds terrible. It groans, shrieks, and whines, leaving her disappointed, frustrated, and downright annoyed. What will it take to make beautiful music?
Readers will relate to The Little Violin Girl’s story as she too, struggles to make her violin sing. With beautiful 'quilted' illustrations, this book is perfect for kids 4-10 and the message is equally beneficial for adults.
Inspired by the author's experiences as both a young violin learner and a parent cheerleader of a young violin learner, this book reminds readers that struggles are okay. It started as a way to help the author's (then 6-year-old) son understand perseverance and add a little more fun to his musical journey.
Learning can be hard. You are not alone. That's why this book was written.
40 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2022
3 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Evelyn Grundy
2 booksCombining her interests in violin playing, writing, and graphic design, Evelyn Grundy is debuting her picture book, My Violin Is NOT Broken?.
She has loved the violin ever since hearing a young busker at the NW Folklife Festival in Seattle. Practicing, however, was a different matter. Now, watching her son struggle through similar discomforts, she want to let young learners and their parents know it’s okay to feel frustrated. Learning can be hard, and perseverance and grit are complex concepts. That’s why this book was written.
She modeled the illustrations after a quilting project completed years ago, giving the book a beautiful, unique feel that can be appreciated by all.
You can learn more about her work at: http://www.violinpicturebook.com
She has loved the violin ever since hearing a young busker at the NW Folklife Festival in Seattle. Practicing, however, was a different matter. Now, watching her son struggle through similar discomforts, she want to let young learners and their parents know it’s okay to feel frustrated. Learning can be hard, and perseverance and grit are complex concepts. That’s why this book was written.
She modeled the illustrations after a quilting project completed years ago, giving the book a beautiful, unique feel that can be appreciated by all.
You can learn more about her work at: http://www.violinpicturebook.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 29, 2024
Appealing illustrations support this well worded and encouraging take of the trials and tears that lead to success. Highly recommend for home, classroom, and music instructors’ libraries.
March 11, 2023
As a former beginning orchestra teacher, I always used stories with my students at the start of the year to demonstrate the instruments' sound and show kids that playing an instrument will take hard work and patience. This is an excellent book for this purpose to add to my list of books.
As a fellow children's book author, I also admire the lyrical writing, following the change of the seasons as the child learns to play more and more with the violin. And we are reminded that learning an instrument takes lots of. . .practice. That is a theme in the story which I love hearing the repetition of. I think any musician can relate to the times of feeling like nothing is working well until you keep going and find that SING to your project or music that you are working on.
I also enjoyed the playful fabric backgrounds in the illustrations. It gives a very unique and welcoming feel to the story. I love the ending of the story as well again with the repetition from the start of "I met a girl playing the violin" with a new twist.
I also created a book reading of the story with violin sound effects, which is available to view on my YouTube channel https://youtu.be/ttVmk_3Cf2o
I received a free pdf copy of this lovely book. Comments are all my own.
As a fellow children's book author, I also admire the lyrical writing, following the change of the seasons as the child learns to play more and more with the violin. And we are reminded that learning an instrument takes lots of. . .practice. That is a theme in the story which I love hearing the repetition of. I think any musician can relate to the times of feeling like nothing is working well until you keep going and find that SING to your project or music that you are working on.
I also enjoyed the playful fabric backgrounds in the illustrations. It gives a very unique and welcoming feel to the story. I love the ending of the story as well again with the repetition from the start of "I met a girl playing the violin" with a new twist.
I also created a book reading of the story with violin sound effects, which is available to view on my YouTube channel https://youtu.be/ttVmk_3Cf2o
I received a free pdf copy of this lovely book. Comments are all my own.
November 30, 2022
Amazing story! Lovely, unique illustrations!
Buy and read this book! You will not be disappointed. The story, by first time author, Evelyn Grundy, indeed exemplifies passion, perseverance, and grit. It’s imbued by the author’s love of the violin. If you’ve ever learned to play an instrument or attempted any difficult task, as you read the book, you will recall the moment when your long struggle at mastery transforms into art. The illustrations, rendered by Ms. Grundy herself, are unusual and magnificent. I look forward to seeing more books by this gifted writer and illustrator.
Buy and read this book! You will not be disappointed. The story, by first time author, Evelyn Grundy, indeed exemplifies passion, perseverance, and grit. It’s imbued by the author’s love of the violin. If you’ve ever learned to play an instrument or attempted any difficult task, as you read the book, you will recall the moment when your long struggle at mastery transforms into art. The illustrations, rendered by Ms. Grundy herself, are unusual and magnificent. I look forward to seeing more books by this gifted writer and illustrator.
November 29, 2022
Cute, inspiring read
This is a fantastic book to read to your children. It teaches a simple, but powerful lesson about working through difficult tasks, and coming through the other side. I will definitely be adding it to our reading rotation! And even though it's a kids book, it's a fantastic reminder for adults, too!
This is a fantastic book to read to your children. It teaches a simple, but powerful lesson about working through difficult tasks, and coming through the other side. I will definitely be adding it to our reading rotation! And even though it's a kids book, it's a fantastic reminder for adults, too!
January 8, 2023
Inspiration message
If you've played an instrument or listened to your child play one, you know the starting sounds is hard on the ears. This story encourages children to keep practicing and don't give up. They will make beautiful music one day.
I liked the addition of glossary and discussion questions.
If you've played an instrument or listened to your child play one, you know the starting sounds is hard on the ears. This story encourages children to keep practicing and don't give up. They will make beautiful music one day.
I liked the addition of glossary and discussion questions.
February 3, 2023
Never Give Up!
This story is so sweet. A story of perseverance and never giving up. I love how the author wrote about her own experiences as a child. Any kid who is involved in activities or sport can relate to the struggle of starting something new as well as the parents watching them. A great book about following your dreams through hard work and dedication.
This story is so sweet. A story of perseverance and never giving up. I love how the author wrote about her own experiences as a child. Any kid who is involved in activities or sport can relate to the struggle of starting something new as well as the parents watching them. A great book about following your dreams through hard work and dedication.
November 29, 2022
Great lesson and lovely illustrations
This story really touched my heart. I highly recommend it to anyone, not just children, who are struggling with not quitting when things get difficult.
This story really touched my heart. I highly recommend it to anyone, not just children, who are struggling with not quitting when things get difficult.
December 1, 2022
Wonderful book!
This story is an inspirational masterpiece! I really like that the girl in the story is so relatable, especially for a child struggling to learn to play an instrument. Additionally, the illustrations are simple and charming. I highly recommend this book.
This story is an inspirational masterpiece! I really like that the girl in the story is so relatable, especially for a child struggling to learn to play an instrument. Additionally, the illustrations are simple and charming. I highly recommend this book.
December 1, 2022
Well written
This book perfectly depicts what it's like learning the violin! The desire, the challenges, the joy felt when you accomplish something. Loved it. I want to buy it for all my students!
This book perfectly depicts what it's like learning the violin! The desire, the challenges, the joy felt when you accomplish something. Loved it. I want to buy it for all my students!
February 4, 2023
and now I can play the violin!
and now I can play the violin!
Can’t beat practice and perseverance and a neat little project started off by her mother.
Every child should read this!!
and now I can play the violin!
Can’t beat practice and perseverance and a neat little project started off by her mother.
Every child should read this!!
March 16, 2023
A wonderful book!
I enjoyed reading the story and seeing how she would manage to go from learner to be able to play a tune. I love the unique concept of the illustrations and the discussion questions at the end.
I enjoyed reading the story and seeing how she would manage to go from learner to be able to play a tune. I love the unique concept of the illustrations and the discussion questions at the end.
March 3, 2023
A delightful story.
This is such a sweet story of a little girl determination to learn to play the violin.uk Beautiful illustrations ithroughout the entire book.
Delightful !
This is such a sweet story of a little girl determination to learn to play the violin.uk Beautiful illustrations ithroughout the entire book.
Delightful !
December 1, 2022
Great, short read! Excellent to help your kids with the idea of difficult projects or skills, and a great reminder for you, too!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews