A beautifully written story about a persistent little girl and her dreams and the steps she took to be successful. The language was lively and beautiful along with the drawings. The story was inspiring and we always love a good biography.

A fascinating read about a groundbreaking woman! Pitch Perfect and Persistent tells the story of American composer and musical prodigy, Amy Cheney Beach, from early childhood to her musical debut as a teenager. The story is easy to read with a quick, engaging pace and a sense of Amy's persistence and love of music and learning. A perfect book to inspire young readers to pursue their dreams. The artwork is absolutely beautiful and interesting backmatter is included.

Pitch perfect is about the first woman composer Amy Beach. The artwork and story were great. It tells the story of when Amy was a little girl and found her love of music and how she started writing music. I think it's important to tell these stories and remind young women of the obstacles other women have had to overcome.

This is a book about a piano protege, Amy Cheney Beach, who had perfect pitch and was an amazing pianist. It details her start in music and her mother's efforts to protect her childhood from her budding fame. The book also talks about some of the concerts that she gave, her admittance to a school where music was taught, and her compositions. This is a great book for aspiring piano players or other musicians!

This biography for children ages K-4 chronicles the early musical development and career of nineteenth-century American musician Amy Cheney Beech, whom I had never heard of before.

The illustrations are charming. Jay's illustrations are simple enough to not overwhelm the story or young readers, but they are also visually interesting and include a range of perspectives and methods for conveying movement and action.

The story was well written. Still, I was concerned about the degree of prior music knowledge to understand the text. There were references to musical keys and composers at multiple parts in the story that would require stopping multiple times to give an explanation to children. This could interrupt the flow of the book and lose readers' interest.

Because of the musical knowledge required and the topic of the book, I don't think it will have wide appeal to most children, especially in a story time setting. Children who are interested in music would be the best audience for this book.

A fun, educational read about Amy Chesney & her musical talents & upbringing.

Lots of brightly colored illustrations keep kids intrigued as they learn about how Amy's life was when she was growing up in the late 1800s.

The book has a timeline at the back of the book, as well as a musical glossary & pictures of Amy & her family.

My kids & I enjoyed this book. Thank you Netgalley & to the publisher

True story of an American composer, Amy Beach, who I was not familiar with. She was able to make up songs to her nursery rhymes. Her mother taught piano lessons in the home so Amy was raised with music in her life. Her mother did not believe there was a place for women in music. Women were not to be bold to show themselves as music artists. Amy could also sing with perfect pitch. She would be persistent to compose hundreds of songs and to even play in Boston. Yes I believe this book shows the power of perseverance.. yes I would recommend as an excellent nonfiction. Should be on students radar. Thanks to the following for allowing me to review early:

#NetGalley
#astrapublishinghouse
#CaitlinDeLems
#PitchPerfectandPersistent
Publication Date: March 21 2023
Pick up this year to complete reading requirements or summer reading

This picture book biography is about a young female musician who overcome cultural barriers and her mother's legalistic religious disapproval to learn, perform, and compose music. The story feels a bit rushed and leaves out some transitional details that are only explained properly in the author's note, and I wished that the book had included some information about Beach's view of religion.

Did she reject God and religion based on her mother's strict interpretation, or did she find a version of faith without man-made rules and regulations? I felt like the book left me hanging by only including her mother's disapproval as part of the plot without showing how it affected Beach's inner life, but it's possible that there wasn't much on record for the author to work with.

This book will appeal to kids and adults who enjoy reading about determined women who overcome barriers. Readers who like this will also enjoy "Rise Up with a Song: The True Story of Ethel Smyth, Suffragette Composer," from Diane Worthey and Helena Pérez García.

As a New Hampshire native and Boston resident, Amy Beach's story was an especially welcome take on a local heroine's history! With incredibly engaging illustrations, DeLems takes us on Amy's journey from precocious toddler to musical prodigy. Along the way, Amy encounters a variety of obstacles but perseveres and, according to the author's note, eventually studies composition entirely on her own. While I found it an unexpected choice to end the picture book at the beginning of Amy's career (and to end, quite literally, on the word "beginning'), the choice was clearly intentional and thoughtful, and certainly conveyed the fact that this book was meant to be an introduction to Amy Beach's early life. For those reading with slightly older children, continuing the narrative by reading the Author's Note aloud may be a great option. The book's final pages also include a musical glossary, additional primary and secondary sources, as well as a list of locations in New Hampshire and Boston to visit. A must-have for Women's History Month and for New England libraries and schools hoping to offer a robust selection of picture books about local historical figures.

I have added this book to my TrueStory Bookshop and recommend it in two categories:
Picture-Book Biographies ~ Women’s History
Picture-Book Biographies ~ Musicians & Singers

https://bookshop.org/shop/KarlinGray

This was absolutely delightful. The illustrations are lovely and charming. My children and I all adore this book. This is one we'll return to again and again. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Pitch Perfect and Persistent!
The Musical Debut of Amy Cheney Beach
by Caitlin DeLems; illustrated by Alison Jay
Pub Date 21 Mar 2023
Astra Publishing House, Calkins Creek
Biographies & Memoirs | Children's Nonfiction


I am reviewing a copy of Pitch Perfect and Persistent through Astra Publishing House , Calkins Creek and Netgalley:


Amy Beach was the first successful female composer in America, this beautifully written and illustrated Children's Book share her story.


Amy Beach always knew she had to make music, even as others tried to hold her back she was fierce and persistent. But she had one big problem Her mother believed it was not proper or suitable for a young lady to draw attention to herself, let alone take on a musical career. Amy was faced with a choice give in or give up.


Amy Beach was not one to give up despite her Mothers wishes and eventually her persistence paid off She demanded to play the piano. Demanded to have a real teacher. Demanded to perform. Luckily for the world! Amy’s persistence paid off. At just sixteen years old, Amy Beach found herself on the stage of Boston’s Music Hall—and the start of a brilliant career. A female composer who paved the way perfectly!



I give Pitch Perfect and Persistent five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

I’d never heard of this
amazing prodigy, Amy Cheney Beach. She paved the way for female musicians despite being discouraged by her parents to take on a traditional role for a woman instead of pursuing her dream. She had limited performances, but composed hundreds of pieces of music with her talents.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
This book is about Amy Cheney Beach. It covers her earliest years and ends with her concert debut. After the main story, there are two pages of summary that cover the rest of her life then a timeline of important events in her life. There are also a few photographs.
This was an interesting book. I had never heard about Amy Cheney Beach. The story was a basic exploration of the topic.
This is a good book for a young reader.

Pitch Perfect and Persistent! tells the true story of Amy Cheney Beach, the incredible musician and first successful woman composer in America. I love reading biographical children's books to my young boys as I usually learn things from them too. We learned all about Amy's life from birth all the way through her successful musical career. It's beautifully illustrated and my kids made a game out of hiding Amy's dog on most pages. The author's note includes "grown up" facts about Amy including a timeline in which I really enjoyed.

This would be the perfect book for early readers and the classroom.

Thank you to NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.

I loved the book, Amy Beach was a wonderful composer that did not get the recognition she deserved. Luckily now, more and more people are enjoying her music.
The story was wonderful and the facts in the back were an excellent addition which makes this book more suitable for a wide variety of ages.

I wish the era/year was mentioned at the start when Amy was introduced. I think there could have been a bit more of an emphasis of the time this took place. Hopefully people read the back of the book so they clearly know she is from the 19th century.

The illustrations were stunning and the warm tones reflected the era.

Thank you Net Galley & publisher for the digital ARC.