As Glenn as Can Be

A warm and witty portrait of child prodigy and world-famous classical musician Glenn Gould.

Glenn was a child who knew his own mind -- he liked boats but did not like fishing; he enjoyed puns and pranks but did not like bullying; he loved learning but did not like school ... but more than anything else he loved to play the piano.

Glenn had a professional performing career by the time he was fifteen; he gave concerts all over the world in his twenties. He became best known for his interpretation of Bach's Goldberg Variations. But Glenn grew to dislike concerts -- the hall was too cold, or he didn't feel well, or the audience made too much noise (he didn't even like their applause!). He discovered that when he played and recorded music in an empty concert hall, he could make it sound exactly the way he wanted. He could do what he loved best, while being completely himself.

Sarah Ellis's beautifully written portrait of Glenn Gould is complemented by Nancy Vo's gorgeous illustrations, bringing the life and times of this extraordinarily talented musician to readers young and old.

Includes a fascinating author's note and resources for further information.

Key Text Features

additional information

afterword

author's note

bibliography

biographical information

biographical note

explanation

facts

further information

further reading

historical context

illustrations

informational note

photographs

sources

vignettes

writing inspiration

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

SARAH ELLIS is a celebrated author, teacher and children's literature expert. She has written more than twenty books across the genres, and her books have been translated into French, Spanish, Danish, Chinese and Japanese. She has won the Governor General's Literary Award (Pick-Up Sticks) and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award (Odd Man Out). Sarah is a masthead reviewer for the Horn Book Magazine, and she is a former faculty member of Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

NANCY VO was born on the prairies and now lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. She graduated with degrees in fine arts and architecture, joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and decided to be a picture-book maker. By day, she works as a facility planner where her colleagues politely tolerate her love of puns and argyle socks. At ungodly hours of the night, she gets to draw. She is the author and illustrator of The Outlaw and The Ranger, the first two books in the Crow Stories trilogy.