One way to inspire musical interest in our children is to acquaint them with the lives of famous composers. Thanks to Zeezok Publishing, students can enjoy sweet and engaging stories about the beloved composers Bach and Mozart.

Originally published in the mid-twentieth century, each 126-page volume offers the story of a composer's life, interspersed with samples of the music that were written throughout his lifetime. Black-and-white, old-fashioned illustrations complete the charming design of these narratives.

The study guides take the stories and create a detailed learning opportunity. These guides include a timeline, maps, comprehension questions, discussions of character qualities and tidbits of interest, endnotes that detail the sources used for the information, and a glossary of musical terms. They are small booklets, but they are very thorough.

The final product is a companion CD that has the composers' musical works and offers the ability to print sheet music as well as coloring pages for each chapter.

I like the simplicity of these books, as well as the gentle nature of the narrative. The stories are a fine introduction to each composer and his work, and the study guides provide ample opportunity to take learning to a deeper level. Cap off the experience with the companion CD, and you have a great introductory music history program covering two important composers.

To order, you can visit them online at www.Zeezok.com, or call their office at 800-749-1681. Planned for the future are volumes on Beethoven, Haydn, Handel and Schumann.

To enhance your family's study of the lives of composers, take a look at Zeezok Publishing's two volumes: Mozart the Wonder Boy and Sebastian Bach: The Boy from Thuringia. When combined with the study guides, these are sweet, engaging and informative books that help us appreciate the lives and music of these great composers.



-- Product Review by: Diane Wheeler, Senior Staff Writer, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC