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Gabriella's Song
In the streets and canals of Venice, Gabriella can hear nothing but sweet music. The drying laundry goes slap-slap, the church bells go ting-aling-ling, and the lire go jing-aling-ling. Soon, Gabriella is humming her way through town -- and everyone hears her song! Some find it sad, others smile when they hear it -- but none can forget the beautiful melody. Before long, a certain struggling composer is inspired by Gabriella's song -- and a beautiful symphony is born.
40 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1997
About the author
Candace Fleming
74 books650 followersI have always been a storyteller. Even before I could write my name, I could tell a good tale. And I told them all the time. As a preschooler, I told my neighbors all about my three-legged cat named Spot. In kindergarten, I told my classmates about the ghost that lived in my attic. And in first grade I told my teacher, Miss Harbart, all about my family's trip to Paris, France.
I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.
Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.
In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.
As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.
After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.
But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.
I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.
Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.
In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.
As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.
After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.
But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 3, 2020
So yes, when I first picked up Candace Fleming's Gabriella's Song from the public library, I was actually not at all sure wether I would even at all enjoy it, as I did not (and still do not) find the book cover image all that visually appealing (I liked the colour schemes, but especially Gabriella's facial expression was not at all to my liking, appearing rather stagnant, frozen and ungirllike).
However, it is indeed true that one should really NOT judge a book by its proverbial cover as Gabriella's Song truly is a wonderful, remarkable picture book offering to share with children, and especially with children interested in music, and how music is created and/or perceived, and with the main featured point and focus being (at least for and to me) that music can be found anywhere and everywhere (the sounds of the city are music, just like human singing is music), but also that music is different for everyone, that it is and can be perceived and enjoyed in a multitude of different ways. Gabriella's song is thus perceived and remembered as happy and rollicking by the baker, while the widow perceives it as sad, as a nostalgic longing for youth, for her happier days.
And furthermore, Gabriella's Song also rather clearly demonstrates that music, even the music of the great composers, neither exists in a vacuum nor is it created in a vacuum, that it represents personal talent and ability, combined with the inspiration by and from the sounds, smells and sights around us. And with that truth in mind, I really do so much appreciate the fact that Candace Fleming shows the famous composer Giuseppe del Pietro publicly acknowledging the fact that his new symphony has, indeed, been inspired by Gabriella's song, which had, in turn, been inspired by the sounds, smells and sights of Venice itself (and yes, I do also wonder and pleasantly so, if the model for del Pietro might have been the famous Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi).
Now I am still trying to decide whether Giselle Potter's accompanying illustrations are entirely to my liking. The colour, texture, and the depiction of the sights (and sounds) of Venice are indeed truly wonderful, expressive, descriptive, a real joy to visualise and behold. However, the human figures, while generally well enough executed on a physical level, oftem seem to feature facial expressions that I for one tend to find more than a bit "off" so to speak; and in particular Gabriella's face always seems without much emotion and generally a touch too "old" for a little girl. But all-in-all, I really enjoyed (and continue to massively appreciate) this little gem of a picture book and would not hesitate to highly recommend Gabriella's Song to anyone seeking an evocatively poetic, enchanting celebration of music and of how the sounds, the whole atmosphere of one's surroundings can and do inspire music and musical composition, musical creation.
However, it is indeed true that one should really NOT judge a book by its proverbial cover as Gabriella's Song truly is a wonderful, remarkable picture book offering to share with children, and especially with children interested in music, and how music is created and/or perceived, and with the main featured point and focus being (at least for and to me) that music can be found anywhere and everywhere (the sounds of the city are music, just like human singing is music), but also that music is different for everyone, that it is and can be perceived and enjoyed in a multitude of different ways. Gabriella's song is thus perceived and remembered as happy and rollicking by the baker, while the widow perceives it as sad, as a nostalgic longing for youth, for her happier days.
And furthermore, Gabriella's Song also rather clearly demonstrates that music, even the music of the great composers, neither exists in a vacuum nor is it created in a vacuum, that it represents personal talent and ability, combined with the inspiration by and from the sounds, smells and sights around us. And with that truth in mind, I really do so much appreciate the fact that Candace Fleming shows the famous composer Giuseppe del Pietro publicly acknowledging the fact that his new symphony has, indeed, been inspired by Gabriella's song, which had, in turn, been inspired by the sounds, smells and sights of Venice itself (and yes, I do also wonder and pleasantly so, if the model for del Pietro might have been the famous Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi).
Now I am still trying to decide whether Giselle Potter's accompanying illustrations are entirely to my liking. The colour, texture, and the depiction of the sights (and sounds) of Venice are indeed truly wonderful, expressive, descriptive, a real joy to visualise and behold. However, the human figures, while generally well enough executed on a physical level, oftem seem to feature facial expressions that I for one tend to find more than a bit "off" so to speak; and in particular Gabriella's face always seems without much emotion and generally a touch too "old" for a little girl. But all-in-all, I really enjoyed (and continue to massively appreciate) this little gem of a picture book and would not hesitate to highly recommend Gabriella's Song to anyone seeking an evocatively poetic, enchanting celebration of music and of how the sounds, the whole atmosphere of one's surroundings can and do inspire music and musical composition, musical creation.
February 20, 2011
I’m giving this book 5 stars, well, 4 ½ actually, because of both the illustrations and the story. I like that the informative author’s note started off the book vs. it being at the end, as is more typical.
The illustrations are truly lovely. I want to go to Venice! It’s wonderfully depicted! I also like how some of the hanging laundry on the inside covers are cloths with music scores on them. And how some of the illustrations are whimsical. And, just everything about them, even people’s faces though they took me a very little bit of time to appreciate them.
The story is sweet; I love how the tune starts, travels, and evolves. I love the acknowledgement given at the end. Most importantly, it shows how the same music can evoke different feelings in different people depending on the person and their mood.
It was a perfect book to read, as one of six books selected, for March’s music theme for the Picture Books Club over at the Children's Books group.
I also appreciated the smattering of Italian words and the “sound effect” words, and the latter contribute to making this book fun to read aloud.
The illustrations are truly lovely. I want to go to Venice! It’s wonderfully depicted! I also like how some of the hanging laundry on the inside covers are cloths with music scores on them. And how some of the illustrations are whimsical. And, just everything about them, even people’s faces though they took me a very little bit of time to appreciate them.
The story is sweet; I love how the tune starts, travels, and evolves. I love the acknowledgement given at the end. Most importantly, it shows how the same music can evoke different feelings in different people depending on the person and their mood.
It was a perfect book to read, as one of six books selected, for March’s music theme for the Picture Books Club over at the Children's Books group.
I also appreciated the smattering of Italian words and the “sound effect” words, and the latter contribute to making this book fun to read aloud.
August 21, 2019
A young Venetian girl, keenly attuned to the sounds of daily life in her city - the crying of street vendors, the flap-flap of pigeon wings, the jing-aling-ling of lire, the ting-aling-ling of church bells - hums an impromptu tune at the baker's, and, going on her way, is unaware until much later that her song has gone out into the city, and has found its way to the ears of composer Giuseppe del Pietro. But when del Pietro puts on a concert to share his latest symphony, the citizens of Venice - and Gabriella in particular - hear something very familiar...
I enjoyed Gabriella's Song, appreciating the idea that sometimes music can be found in the everyday sounds around us, and that it can speak to different people in different ways. I also really liked the way that it highlights the connections between formal art music - what we often call "classical" music - and other modes of musical expression. (It may seem obvious to say that all music is interconnected, but I think that this is something people tend to forget, in their haste to categorize by genre). The ink and watercolor illustrations by Giselle Potter have a distinctively whimsical charm, well-suited to the story. All in all, a sweet little book - one of six chosen by the Picture-Book Club to which I belong, as part of our "music-themed" March reading program - that is well worth the young music-lover's time!
I enjoyed Gabriella's Song, appreciating the idea that sometimes music can be found in the everyday sounds around us, and that it can speak to different people in different ways. I also really liked the way that it highlights the connections between formal art music - what we often call "classical" music - and other modes of musical expression. (It may seem obvious to say that all music is interconnected, but I think that this is something people tend to forget, in their haste to categorize by genre). The ink and watercolor illustrations by Giselle Potter have a distinctively whimsical charm, well-suited to the story. All in all, a sweet little book - one of six chosen by the Picture-Book Club to which I belong, as part of our "music-themed" March reading program - that is well worth the young music-lover's time!
March 10, 2011
Gabriella's Song is a sweet and charming book. I appreciated the warm color use in the illustrations adding to the cozy feel of the book. I liked the storyline of a little girl walking through Venice with a song that catches on throughout the city. I thought it did a nice job of expressing how music affects everyone differently. It was also nice to see the culture of the city. The author note in the beginning was helpful in understanding this city of music.
This book was a choice of the Children's Picture Book Club monthly reads found here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...
This book was a choice of the Children's Picture Book Club monthly reads found here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...
May 28, 2017
In her travels around Venice, little Gabriella uses snippets of the sounds she hears to create a little song . . . which inspires another to write a symphony.
Giselle Potter's illustrations put a song in my heart!
Giselle Potter's illustrations put a song in my heart!
December 9, 2009
I discovered this book as it was featured as one of the March 2011 Music-themed reads for the Picture-book club in the Children's Books group here at Goodreads. We really enjoyed the story; I'm not sure it would have been a book that we would have chosen on our own, so I'm thankful once again for this group introducing us to a wide variety of books.
I like the idea that little Giselle found music in the everyday sounds around her. While reading the story we attempted to make a song from the sounds in the book, with each of us repeating a sound. I don't think we quite captured the essence of the beauty of Gabriella's song, but it was fun and it reminded me of a musical round that the music teacher in our girls' school taught (with better results, I might add.)
The illustrations were interesting and I love that the composer made a beautiful symphony out of Gabriella's little tune. All in all, it was a fun book to read aloud.
I like the idea that little Giselle found music in the everyday sounds around her. While reading the story we attempted to make a song from the sounds in the book, with each of us repeating a sound. I don't think we quite captured the essence of the beauty of Gabriella's song, but it was fun and it reminded me of a musical round that the music teacher in our girls' school taught (with better results, I might add.)
The illustrations were interesting and I love that the composer made a beautiful symphony out of Gabriella's little tune. All in all, it was a fun book to read aloud.
August 2, 2014
A well-crafted story with truly ugly illustrations.
September 18, 2015
A bit too simple. Odd pictures. Everything works except the people.
October 18, 2018
I did not enjoy this book. I thought that the illustrations were dull and I wish that they were more colorful. I also think that only students who are interested in music would want to read this book. I found it to be dull, and that many students would enjoy reading about more interesting topics. I think that if a child was interested in music that this would be the book for them, but many children would rather read about other topics instead of this. This would be great for an elementary music class and the teacher could possibly get their students excited about music. I think that better books are out there than this book, but for certain instances this book would appeal to young readers.
June 1, 2017
For some reason, this came up in the library catalog when I was searching for books on birds. No idea why, really, because just having a few birds on the cover did not make it qualify. And perhaps that was part of why I didn't care so much for this one. I try to evaluate a book based on what it actually is and not because of my expectations, but, well, it's hard. And I'm human. So there we are. I actually think the story itself is a nice one, although I feel like it should have been based on a true story and my brain was disappointed that there's no evidence that this is so. And while I did like the colors used in the illustrations, the pictures themselves were unappealing.
February 2, 2018
I give this book a 1 star.
This book is about Gabriella and her song. She lives in Venice and listens the music everyday. This leads to her learning all these different songs that she wish she could do. Finally she learns to do this and it makes her life.
Ways to use this in a classroom
1) Have students choose their favorite song
2) Ask students why this is their favorite song and compare the same aspects
3) Have the students choose to draw their favorite thing in a picture
4) Have them set a goal to what they want to do
This book is about Gabriella and her song. She lives in Venice and listens the music everyday. This leads to her learning all these different songs that she wish she could do. Finally she learns to do this and it makes her life.
Ways to use this in a classroom
1) Have students choose their favorite song
2) Ask students why this is their favorite song and compare the same aspects
3) Have the students choose to draw their favorite thing in a picture
4) Have them set a goal to what they want to do
June 10, 2021
Gabriella lives in Venice where there is music everywhere. One day she hums a tune that makes the baker feel young and alive, the widow feel old and alone, the gondola riders play their music to it, and it finally reaches the ears of the musician writing a symphony. A delightful look at how music can speak to each of us in different ways.
October 12, 2017
While I didn't like the pictures, the story was wonderful. Gabriella is a little girl with a song in her heart. The song affects the rest of the village, each person in a different way. This amazing story really touches a part of the reader. It is enchanting.
December 16, 2020
I thought this story about how music is in the heart and soul of the everyday in Venice was one of the best depictions of how it might actually feel to be in emerged in the Venetian culture. It was a great book addition to our introduction of Italy and the musicians of Europe.
March 2, 2023
This captures one of the beautiful things to come out of Italy which are arias. So this follows a girl who sings and borrows and learns from others only to inspire another. It's as much a celebration of Italian culture as it is music. Delightful.
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May 12, 2023آوای گابریلا/ترجمه مینو همدانی زاده/انتشارات پرنده آبی
صدا برای هرکس جوری شنیده میشود. نویسنده میگوید ایدهی کتاب از آنجایی به ذهنش میرسد که روزی در بازارِ شلوغی بوده و ازدحام و سر و صدای زیاد اذیتش میکرده. پسر کوچکش اما نظر متفاوتی دارد، او میگوید: «اینها که سر و صدا نیست! آهنگ است.»
صدا برای هرکس جوری شنیده میشود. نویسنده میگوید ایدهی کتاب از آنجایی به ذهنش میرسد که روزی در بازارِ شلوغی بوده و ازدحام و سر و صدای زیاد اذیتش میکرده. پسر کوچکش اما نظر متفاوتی دارد، او میگوید: «اینها که سر و صدا نیست! آهنگ است.»
March 26, 2026
Although this wasn’t my style of writing and flow that I like to see in a good children’s book it was still a dear story.
Gabriella was a young girl in Venice. Her beautiful tune passed from one person to the next. Beautiful picture of friendship and community.
Gabriella was a young girl in Venice. Her beautiful tune passed from one person to the next. Beautiful picture of friendship and community.
July 8, 2019
A sweet tale about a song spreading throughout a city. I enjoyed this one more than my child.
February 6, 2020
The song of a girl moves through the city of music, Venice. From girl to baker, to widow, to gondolier, to composer, her music inspires each listener differently.
February 5, 2021
My 6yo: I loved the music!
Mom: A sweet story about a girl who finds music in the everyday sounds of Venice, Italy and shares it with the people around her.
#passportaroundtheworld #italy
Mom: A sweet story about a girl who finds music in the everyday sounds of Venice, Italy and shares it with the people around her.
#passportaroundtheworld #italy
August 19, 2023
Fave illustrator.
August 3, 2025
A beautiful ode to the power of music and the impact it can have on our lives. Bonus that this story is set in Venice, Italy!
February 15, 2024
In Venice where Gabriella lived everything seemed musical to her. She began to hum a little tune, which the baker heard and began whistling, which a woman heard and began humming, which a gondolier heard and began playing on his accordion, so that eventually all of Venice was enjoying Gabriella's tune in their own way. When a composer listened to Gabriella singing her tune, he heard in it everything that had inspired it. This is a nicely illustrated circular story that makes one think.
June 24, 2015
This is a book about a little girl named Gabriella, who lives in Venice and who loves music. One day when she’s out and about she starts singing. The baker hears her song and sings it, he passes it on to a widow and on and on until it gets to a composer. The composer hears Gabriella singing it outside his window and turns it into a complete symphony. He then performs it and everyone turns to whom they heard it from. Gabriella receives the credit for the inspiration for the symphony. I liked this book a lot, partially because of my love of music. I would use it to show that everyone is creative, and some are creative through music. I could also use it to show that music could mean something different to everyone.
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October 20, 2009This is a tale that I have never heard or read before. It is set in Venice Italy in the 1600’s. At this time Venice was a city of music. In this story Gabriella started a song that affects everyone she meets a different way. This is truly a unique and charming story. It would be a great book to introduce some new vocabulary with because there is a plethora of new words with in the text. The illustrations are amazing! The illustrator used ink, watercolor, and colored pencils to create the beautiful pages.
January 4, 2013
I really enjoyed this one. Gabriella is a young girl who is inspired by the city she loves and lives in, Venice. The author does a wonderful job describing Venice as a musical land and birthplace of Opera and arias. Gabriella creates and hums a lovely tune that move people in a variety of different ways. I loved how her melody brought joy to some and sadness to others, music really does speak to everyone in their own personal way.
February 16, 2013
Gabriella, a young girl, is inspired by the sounds of Venice to create her own song. Her beautiful, simple little tune spreads like wildfire through the streets, and eventually inspires something greater than itself. This is a cute little book about how ideas and art can be infectious in the best of ways, and how each piece of art can evoke different emotions in different people, but remains valid despite this.
October 20, 2008
Will you think I'm a dork if I tell you I picked this book up off the library shelf to read to my daughter and it made me cry? In full disclosure, I'd been driving around Newport, RI all morning, and beautiful scenery makes me susceptible to weepiness. But I just thought the metaphor was so lovely...
October 21, 2011
Charmingly illustrated tale weaves together sounds heard in Venice: bump de bump bump of gondolas, slap-slap of drying laundry, flap-flap of pigeon wings, jing-aling-ling of lire and ting-aling-ling of church bells. Inspired by author's son who heard a song where his mother heard irritating noise in the grocery store.
April 19, 2010
Story of music in Venice, Italy. Fun illustrations. Also, uses some Italian words and could be used to talk about other cultures and histories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews