The Story
⭐ "Colorful...closes triumphantly... extensive back matter." --Horn Book (STARRED REVIEW)
An inspiring picture book biography of a UN Peace Medal recipient who used his songs--and his silence--to fight fascism, oppression, and violence.
One day in Catalonia, Spain, eleven-year-old Pau Casals was captivated by the cello--setting him on a path toward international fame (as a cellist) and extraordinary courage (as an advocate for social justice).
Playing the cello would take Pau all over the world, performing in palaces, concert halls, even the White House. People called him Pablo Casals now, and he was famous and beloved. But when the events of Spanish Civil War and World War II left his homeland ruled by a dictator, Pablo made a dramatic decision: he would silence his music until Spain was free. Would the world ever hear his cello sing again?
Illustrated in vibrant, joyous color by Catalonian artist Mariona Cabassa, Music and Silence introduces children to a man who was not just a master of the cello, but a remarkable model of sacrifice and artistic protest. After the story, readers can learn more about Pablo Casals through creator notes, historical notes, a timeline, a bibliography, and links to performances and interviews.
Author: Christy Mihaly
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Published: 04/21/2026
Pages: 56
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 10.94h x 8.64w x 0.43d
ISBN: 9780802855510
Audience: Ages 9-12
Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 03/20/2026 pg. 1
Horn Book Magazine 05/01/2026 pg. 103
Booklist 02/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2025
About the Author
Christy Mihaly is an award-winning author of books for both children and teens, including Patience, Patches! (Dial), Water: A Deep Dive of Discovery (Barefoot Books), and The Supreme Court and Us (Albert Whitman). Music and Silence was shaped by Christy's years playing trumpet in many ensembles, her years working as a lawyer, and her year living in Spain. Christy currently lives in rural Vermont, where she enjoys learning how to play the cello. Visit her website at christymihaly.com.
Mariona Cabassa has illustrated over eighty books, including Whatever Comes Tomorrow, A Gift for Amma: A Market Day in India, and Christy Mihaly's previous book Water: A Deep Dive of Discovery (all Barefoot Books). A native of Catalonia, Spain, she drew inspiration from her homeland and historical photographs as she created the art for this book. Mariona's love of nature is reflected in both her illustrations and the gardens she's nurtured over the years. Follow her @theinvisiblecircle on Instagram and visit her website at theinvisiblecircle.com.
Description
⭐ "Colorful...closes triumphantly... extensive back matter." --Horn Book (STARRED REVIEW)
An inspiring picture book biography of a UN Peace Medal recipient who used his songs--and his silence--to fight fascism, oppression, and violence.
One day in Catalonia, Spain, eleven-year-old Pau Casals was captivated by the cello--setting him on a path toward international fame (as a cellist) and extraordinary courage (as an advocate for social justice).
Playing the cello would take Pau all over the world, performing in palaces, concert halls, even the White House. People called him Pablo Casals now, and he was famous and beloved. But when the events of Spanish Civil War and World War II left his homeland ruled by a dictator, Pablo made a dramatic decision: he would silence his music until Spain was free. Would the world ever hear his cello sing again?
Illustrated in vibrant, joyous color by Catalonian artist Mariona Cabassa, Music and Silence introduces children to a man who was not just a master of the cello, but a remarkable model of sacrifice and artistic protest. After the story, readers can learn more about Pablo Casals through creator notes, historical notes, a timeline, a bibliography, and links to performances and interviews.
Author: Christy Mihaly
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Published: 04/21/2026
Pages: 56
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 10.94h x 8.64w x 0.43d
ISBN: 9780802855510
Audience: Ages 9-12
Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 03/20/2026 pg. 1
Horn Book Magazine 05/01/2026 pg. 103
Booklist 02/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2025
About the Author
Christy Mihaly is an award-winning author of books for both children and teens, including Patience, Patches! (Dial), Water: A Deep Dive of Discovery (Barefoot Books), and The Supreme Court and Us (Albert Whitman). Music and Silence was shaped by Christy's years playing trumpet in many ensembles, her years working as a lawyer, and her year living in Spain. Christy currently lives in rural Vermont, where she enjoys learning how to play the cello. Visit her website at christymihaly.com.
Mariona Cabassa has illustrated over eighty books, including Whatever Comes Tomorrow, A Gift for Amma: A Market Day in India, and Christy Mihaly's previous book Water: A Deep Dive of Discovery (all Barefoot Books). A native of Catalonia, Spain, she drew inspiration from her homeland and historical photographs as she created the art for this book. Mariona's love of nature is reflected in both her illustrations and the gardens she's nurtured over the years. Follow her @theinvisiblecircle on Instagram and visit her website at theinvisiblecircle.com.
