A Story of Baghdad

James Rumford stated, “The story of Silent Music was born in the spring of 2003, as Baghdad fell and its citizens struggled to form a new Iraq.”

Silent Music:  A Story of Baghdad is told in first person by the young character, Ali.  He shares what he likes as a boy – soccer, music, and writing.  Ali interweaves the challenges of learning the Islamic calligraphy letters to the present day bombings and war in Baghdad. This book would provide some background knowledge for current events.

The illustrations are distinct.  I find the background print almost overbearing, yet hold clues from the text.  On one page I noticed a United States soldier with some young soccer players.  The book gave me a glimpse into the Islamic culture, as did the author’s note in the back.

Savorings for reading and in writing for Silent Music:  A Story of Baghdad:

• Transitions – “But most of all, I love calligraphy –“
• Magic of 3
• Varied sentence lengths
• Words used a a unique part of speech – parent-rattling
• Love of Writing
• Simile – “writing a long sentence is like watching a soccer player in slow motion…“
• Multi-cultural – background knowledge for Baghdad, Iraq and Islamic culture

(Warsaw Public Library)