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Kristin Schmidt is an artist and author living in Nashville, TN with her husband, Trent, and their two children, Tyson and Avery. Her hobbies include painting, word design, interior decorating, and visiting picturesque towns.
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Give Your Song a Voice is an outstanding book that teaches young children not only the importance of music, but also the importance of getting along with everyone, no matter how different they may be. A little girl wakes from a dream with a song in her head that just won't go away. She ventures out into the big world and discovers musical talent, where she least expects to find it. A hippo plays a trombone; a chimpanzee plays the drums; a 'gator plays the flute, and more, until the little girl has an entire band of mismatched musicians with only one thing in common - their love of music.
The story is written in rhyme which adds a musical element to the words themselves. There is excellent imagery, both in the illustrations and in the words themselves. There are lots of learning tools: the different animals, the different instruments, and numbers. But most important is the one line towards the end that sums up everything:
"No matter what color, what shape, or what size,
each had something special kept deep in disguise.
Their talent was vast, their purpose was clear,
and they could now show the world without any fear!"
This story is not just about music. It's about finding and appreciating everyone's different talents, despite their many differences. Kristin Schmidt, Tennessee author and artist, has written a delightful story that captures the song in everyone's heart. Her last line: "A song has no voice until you choose to share it!" is what the author has done with her song, her story - she has shared it. This story, which is like a song, has heart. Well done!
