The Sound in the Woods was honored with a First-Place award at the Writer’s Day Contest presented by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators of Los Angeles.
AWARD-WINNING STORY
“The Sound in the Woods is a lovely and moving piece of writing… The sense of place, the woods, and sense of time – summer, ground the story and make it an earthy experience. The father-child relationship is warmly satisfying. The subject matter is unique, introducing children to the art of making an instrument in a highly personal and accessible way.”
—Judge, Writer’s Day Contest, SCBWI – Los Angeles
AWARD-WINNING STORY
The Sound in the Woods was honored with a First-Place award at the Writer’s Day Contest presented by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators of Los Angeles.
“The Sound in the Woods is a lovely and moving piece of writing… The sense of place, the woods, and sense of time – summer, ground the story and make it an earthy experience. The father-child relationship is warmly satisfying. The subject matter is unique, introducing children to the art of making an instrument in a highly personal and accessible way.”
—Judge, Writer’s Day Contest, SCBWI – Los Angeles
ABOUT THE BOOK
For centuries within the red spruce tree forest of the Dolomite Mountains, the beautiful art of violin making has been passed down by way of families, often from father to son. Through the eyes of a young boy as he begins his long-awaited journey toward becoming a violin maker, and the steady guiding hands of his father, The Sound in the Woods illuminates all the time-honored traditions and treasures of this beloved trade.
As the story moves from summer to autumn across the woods whose strong tall trees are shaped and shined into a wondrous instrument, we are reminded of our rhythmic companionship with the natural world and its importance in the creation of music.
Award-winning author Tamara S. Wolfe has created an enchanting lyrical narrative nestled within the vibrant watercolor paintings of acclaimed artist Bradley H. Clark, in celebration of all the moments to delight in along the way to building something magnificent.
ABOUT THE BOOK
For centuries within the red spruce tree forest of the Dolomite Mountains, the beautiful art of violin making has been passed down by way of families, often from father to son. Through the eyes of a young boy as he begins his long-awaited journey toward becoming a violin maker, and the steady guiding hands of his father, The Sound in the Woods illuminates all the time-honored traditions and treasures of this beloved trade.
As the story moves from summer to autumn across the woods whose strong tall trees are shaped and shined into a wondrous instrument, we are reminded of our rhythmic companionship with the natural world and its importance in the creation of music.
Award-winning author Tamara S. Wolfe has created an enchanting lyrical narrative nestled within the vibrant watercolor paintings of acclaimed artist Bradley H. Clark, in celebration of all the moments to delight in along the way to building something magnificent.
LYCEUM YOUTH ORCHESTRAS PARTNERSHIP and THE FOURTH MOVEMENT GIVING PROGRAM
With heartfelt thanks to Music Director Kayson Brown and his Lyceum Youth Orchestras Program at American Heritage School for partnering with author Tamara S. Wolfe in an ever-important aim:
To bring The Sound in the Woods children’s book to the community as the heart of The Fourth Movement, a giving program where one-fourth of all book proceeds fund K-12 tuition-based scholarships and advance the Lyceum Youth Orchestras’ mission to inspire, instruct and impact!
The Lyceum Youth Orchestras Program has musicians that come from 100 schools across the great State of Utah.
LYCEUM YOUTH ORCHESTRAS PARTNERSHIP and THE FOURTH MOVEMENT GIVING PROGRAM
With heartfelt thanks to Music Director Kayson Brown and his Lyceum Youth Orchestras Program at American Heritage School for partnering with author Tamara S. Wolfe in an ever-important aim:
To bring The Sound in the Woods children’s book to the community as the heart of The Fourth Movement, a giving program where one-fourth of all book proceeds fund K-12 tuition-based scholarships and advance the Lyceum Youth Orchestras’ mission to inspire, instruct and impact!
The Lyceum Youth Orchestras Program has musicians that come from 100 schools across the great State of Utah.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR, Tamara S. Wolfe
After living among the avocado orchards in California and the emerald green in Oregon, I returned home to the majestic mountains of Utah. Growing up with the Utah Symphony I dreamed of becoming a concert pianist. While Chopin and Bach brought me much joy, my only claim to fame was winning my school’s music competition – I was six. But little did I imagine that a few years beyond earning an MBA from UCLA, I would serve as director of marketing for a renown symphony orchestra where I would come to see how music lifted the life of every child, inspiring me to write The Sound in the Woods.
My hope for every child – may this book be an enduring reminder that you have an artist inside, and any dream you dare to dream can be yours.
And my thanks for the artists – luthier David Gusset, painter Bradley H. Clark, and Superior Packaging and Finishing who have given their gifts and dedication throughout the making of The Sound in the Woods. I hope you take a moment to read my reflections of their artistry, below…
Luthier David Gusset
The Sound in the Woods is a culmination of my love of classical music and writing. But the story would not have been possible without luthier David Gusset, who invited me into his workshop where he shared every artful and scientific step in crafting one of his warm, richly toned violins. David was one of the first graduates of the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City, Utah. He also became the first American to win the Antonio Stradivari Triennial Violin Making Competition in Cremona, Italy, with his violin now housed in the Antonio Stradivari Museum in Cremona. David’s masterworks will forever be known for their ‘exceptional beauty, craftsmanship, and tone’ by the world’s leading violin experts. It is my hope that every child and adult alike finds the many treasures I discovered from David, within The Sound in the Woods. You can explore David’s artistry at Gusset Violins.
Painter Bradley H. Clark
When Bradley Clark said ‘yes’ to creating the art for The Sound in the Woods and relayed it would be a labor of love, my heart leaped! Bradley, who is one of the most exquisite traditional watercolor painters of our time, made his mark in the art world across the New York landscape, with commissions by the Big Apple’s biggest publishing houses including HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Random House, MacMillan and St. Martin’s Press. He has also been honored by the Art Directors Club of New York, and featured in Watercolor Magazine, The Art of Business. But it is his careful and involved method of studio painting, breathtaking plein-air scenery and brilliance as a symphonic vocalist for the illustrious Utah Symphony, that formed the eloquent trio for bringing his splendid artistry to this book. You can explore Bradley’s artistry at Bradley Clark Art.
Superior Packaging and Finishing
After months of searching for the right print and bindery house, I found Superior Packaging and Finishing (by way of the great folks at Houchen Bindery). Under the care and guidance of Executive Vice President and ‘binding virtuoso’ Paul Parisi, The Sound in the Woods has been printed using the offset process which brings visual depth and brilliance to the artwork. And The Sound in the Woods has been finished with the 1868 Smyth Sewn bindery method to preserve the beauty and integrity of the artwork, and to ensure the book remains strong throughout the test of time. You can explore more about Paul’s expertise in the Smyth Sewn bindery method here.