Announcing Levi’s Gift
This month sees the release of my 20th picture book, Levi’s Gift, which captures the beginning of a cross-generational, cross-cultural friendship between an old man and a young girl. It’s also about the healing power of music.
I’ve always had a soft spot for stories about friendships between children and old people, and although I’ve never played any musical instrument, stories involving music and especially violins have often moved me too.
So it’s no surprise that when I saw the documentary Joe’s Violin, it inspired me to write. I created two characters, Levi and Gabriela, who resemble in some ways Joseph Feingold and Brianna Perez, who are featured in the film, and wrote a story from the points of view of both Levi and Gabriela.
Like many of my manuscripts, it was turned down by more than one publisher before it occurred to me that it might find a home with Nimbus Publishing, located in Nova Scotia where fiddle music is much appreciated. Nimbus liked the story but wondered if I’d be willing to rewrite it, limiting it to Levi’s point of view.
I loved how the approach Nimbus suggested simplified the story, thereby sharpening its emotional impact. Thank you, Whitney Moran, for the suggestion and thank you, Claire Bennet, for helping me further fine-tune the text!
Thanks also to Ellie Arscott for so capably capturing in her illustrations what the violin meant to each of the characters!
Where Brianna Perez is now, I don’t know. I hope she has succeeded in her dream of becoming a music teacher. Joseph Feingold, I have learned, died of pneumonia and COVID in 2020. I hope he would have been pleased to know that his generous spirit lives on in Levi.
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Kathy Stinson is the author of the classic Red Is Best and the award-winning The Man with the Violin. Her wide range of titles includes picture books, non-fiction, young adult fiction, historical fiction, horror, biography, series books, and short stories. She has met with her readers in every province and territory of Canada, in the United States, Britain, Liberia, and Korea. She lives in a small town in Ontario.
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Kathy, congratulations on your newest book and in finding the right home with Nimbus. The connection between Levi and Gabriela sounds inspiring too. One can almost hear the strings…
Cheers.
A lovely note, Catherine. Thank you. 🙂
Congratulations on the new book, Kathy! Who doesn’t love fiddle music? I’m sure this story will find its audience.
Thank you, Kristin. I hope you’re right! It’s already a hit with the grandson of my next door neighbour! A good start! 🙂
I cannot WAIT to hold your latest and share with friends. I am tutoring a young girl recently arrived from Iran and she plays piano beautifully. Your book will resonate and thank you for writing such a special story.
Thank you, Wendy. it sounds like the girl you are tutoring could well be the perfect audience for this book!
Dear Kathy,
It’s so exciting to hear about your new book involving the violin! I’m sure all the students at the Suzuki String School of Guelph will be excited to read it. When will it be available? Let’s talk about how we can help you promote it in the music education community.
Warmly,
Paule
Thank you, Paule, for your enthusiastic reception to my new book! It should be in bookstores now, or very soon. I dropped off a copy to the Bookshelf last week in hopes they’d order more in, but I don’t know if they have. If you were to contact them and mention how excited you and your students are to hear about it, that would be awesome. Please feel free to email me (or use the contact form on my site) so we can continue this conversation!
Kathy
Sorry I didn’t see you at your book release, but totally understandable and a good call on your part. The driving was pretty hellish. I love Levi’s story (and it got me thinking about what to do with my dad’s violin, which i can’t play).
I’m glad you like the story, Karen. Thanks. I love that it’s got you thinking about your dad’s violin – an impact of the story I hadn’t anticipated.