Ada’s Violin by Susan Wood, Illus. by Sally Wern Comport, NY, Simon & Schuster, $23.99
This non-fiction picture book, subtitled The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay, explains how one man with a vision made a huge difference to children living in Cateura, Paraguay.
Cateura is a garbage dump for Paraguay’s capital, Asuncion, and one of the poorest slums in the entire country.
The story focuses on Ada Rios, a young daughter of a ganchero or garbage picker who faced a life growing up in impoverished circumstances.
Her life changed at the age of eleven when she met Favio Chavez, an environmental engineer, whose initial job in Cateura was to teach safety practices to the gancheros.
Chavez, also a musician, wondered what he could do for the town’s children and decided to offer free music classes. Ada’s grandma, aware of her granddaughter’s love of music, signed her up for a class.
Chavez realized quickly that real musical instruments would soon be stolen and creatively devised instruments from the trash that surrounded the town.
Oil drums, packing crates and even old paint cans became guitars, drums and flutes and an orchestra was born. Ada and her companions played outside in searing heat and occasional downpours and adhered to a strict schedule.
By the time Ada was twelve her hard work and growing skills caused her to be named a first violinist.
Thanks to the inspired teaching of Chavez, who eventually gave up his original job, the Orchestra was invited to play in many other countries and was even invited to tour with heavy metal band Metallica. Ada Rios was only sixteen years old at the time!
Wood notes that there are now 25 instructors and 200 students in the Recycled Orchestra - an incredible success story. She also indicates on her website that she plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from the book to the Orchestra
Wood drew on information acquired from interviewing both Ada Rios and Favio Chavez. She lists a number of informative websites and videos interested readers might want to investigate and gives further details about the difficulties
Chavez encountered in establishing the Orchestra. Wood’s text is accompanied by Comport’s vibrant illustrations created through a technique of collage, acrylic paints, drawings and digital mediums. Her use of intense and glowing colours are most effective in evoking the tropical mood and setting.
This is a lovely real-life story and a reminder that one person with a vision can change the world.
Fran Ashdown was the children’s librarian at the Capilano Branch of the NV District Library. She took piano lessons as a child but hated the metronome. For info check your local libraries.
