Happy Book Birthday 

THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL

How Isaac Stern United the World to Save Carnegie Hall

by award-winning

Megan Hoyt

Illustrated by Katie Hickey
 
(Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins)

Also available via Harper360 (Australian & UK editions)

From the acclaimed author of BARTALI’S BICYCLE comes the inspiring story of violin virtuoso Isaac Stern and his mission to save the beloved Carnegie Hall from demolition.

With talented artists like Duke Ellington and Albert Einstein gracing its stage, Carnegie Hall quickly became a place where all people—no matter their skin color, religion, or social status—could come together under one roof to be entertained. People like Isaac Stern. The son of Jewish immigrants who fled war-torn Ukraine for America to escape the Holocaust, Isaac was a talented violinist whose dream of one day performing on Carnegie Hall’s legendary stage came true, many times over. So when a real estate tycoon sets out to demolish Carnegie Hall, Isaac knew something had to be done to preserve decades of hopes, dreams, and inclusivity.

The true story of one man’s fight to save a historical landmark whose timeless symbol of equality will forever stand the test of time.

 “Music, history, and social justice combine [in this], a true love letter to Carnegie Hall…”

“How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice. 
(And thanks to the Herculean efforts of Isaac Stern.) 
You’ll be shouting “Bravo!”“

“[Stern’s] message—‘”When you believe in something, you can move mountains!”’—is a good one for children to hear, and this story is a great way to introduce the famous fiddler and his favorite performance venue to the next generation of music lovers. Back matter includes a timeline, notes on Carnegie Hall and Isaac Stern, source notes, and the text of the petition to save Carnegie Hall.”

“Hoyt pays tribute not just to the renowned violinist but to a unique cultural institution that has hosted many luminaries. Young readers will doubtless be left duly appreciative of both. Compelling.”

“THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL is easily one of my favorite picture book biographies … Written in beautiful prose that uses the five senses to place the reader in Carnegie Hall and New York, it’s complemented by sophisticated illustrations that depict a diverse, vibrant city. Themes of fortitude, celebration of the arts, immigration, community voice, and the big difference one person can make, are seamlessly woven into this superbly told and illustrated tale.“

“Whether you are traveling to New York City or teaching a unit on activism, teaching about Carnegie Hall in music class, or looking to focus on ELA standards for figurative language and literary devices, this book literally has something for everyone.”

Author Spotlight

Fun fact:  NYC concert halls have a special place in Megan’s heart for one very important reason—they are where her parents first met! Both were symphony musicians who regularly played in pit orchestras around town. Her mother was a violinist like Isaac Stern, and her father played the viola and French horn. After a concert one night, for their first official date, her parents strolled over to the nearby Carnegie Deli for cheesecake. Her father never shared food with anyone, but he shared his cheesecake with her mother that night after the show.  The rest, as they say, is history.
Megan’s history.

“The struggle to save Carnegie Hall seemed to line up with the struggle of Isaac Stern’s family to escape a life of uncertainty and anti-semitism in Ukraine. I mined a deeper vein and found another theme to wind through the story—racism has no power once the music begins! I researched who performed at Carnegie Hall and discovered that this beautiful building also housed meetings of the NAACP, synagogues, churches from Catholic to Presbyterian, and musicians of all skin tones. I added another layer, the beauty of diversity. This idea that a community can come together for a common cause gave me another vein to mine—unity! And another—activism!”
—Megan Hoyt

Behind the Scenes: “A Perfect Symphony, Mining for Gold in The Greatest Song of All” by Megan Hoyt – Beth Anderson, Children’s Writer (bethandersonwriter.com)

How did your musical background influence or inform the way you wrote THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL?
MH: I tried to make the sentences lilting and lyrical, especially on the first page where the audience is gathered, anticipating the first concert at Carnegie Hall. I wanted the words and sentences to swish and flow across the heart like music, as it’s read aloud.

Have you always been drawn to stories of history’s unsung heroes?
I think how each individual person chooses to live their lives can be so inspiring to the rest of us—even if the person was not a hero but just someone who brightened their little corner of the world. 
MH: It is what knits the fabric of a society together. I am especially drawn to telling children about people whose accomplishments are close to being forgotten as time marches forward. I have a few more biographies in the works that I hope will inspire, educate, and entertain children growing up in these times of uncertainty.

Carnegie Hall is considered a “timeless symbol of equality,” and yet it was in danger of being torn down. What do you hope young readers will take away from Isaac Stern’s quest to preserve it?

MH: I hope young readers will let this story really seep into their hearts as they face a world where injustice still happens every day—and I hope they will see that persistence is the key to change! Don’t give up when you know the cause is just, even if it looks like you are far from your goal.
   The Greatest Song of All written by Megan Hoyt, illustrated by Katie Hickey – YouTube

Click image above to watch the trailer.
 

To learn how a famous concert violinist helped unite the world to save one of NYC’s most elegant architectural treasures, order a signed copy here.

As featured:

Stay tuned for two more PB biographies from Quill Tree Books/HC, both acquired by Karen Chaplin (as featured on the left below): A GRAND IDEA: HOW WILLIAM WILGUS CREATED THE GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL and KATI’S TINY MESSENGERS: DR. KATALIN KARIKO AND THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19, plus a soon-to-be-announced picture book coming out with Jewish publisher Apples and Honey Press.

Image by Lisa Johnston Hancock.