Peter and the Wolf

Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Illustrator: Peter Malone
Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (2004)
ISBN: 9780375824302

There is no better way to introduce children to classical music than Sergei Prokofiev’s musical fairy tale Peter and the Wolf. Follow along as Peter outsmarts the big, bad wolf with the help of a gathering of animals from the forest around his home. Each character in the story is represented by an instrument of the orchestra, making this a fun and engaging way of experiencing music as a young audience member.

In this new retelling by Janet Schulman, the basic story is retained with a kinder ending for both the wolf and the argumentative duck. Peter Malone’s paintings are reminiscent of the luminous paintings of old Russian masters — a fitting tribute to Prokofiev’s fatherland.

Follow along with an accompanying CD, performed by the Cincinnati Pops with word-for-word narration by Peter A. Thomas.