Welcome to "Juletide," the annual holiday concert presented by the CMU School of Music!

Madame Alexander: The Creator of the Iconic American Doll is written by Susan Goldman Rubin and illustrated by Sarah Dvojack will delight readers 5-9 years of age. This is the life story of a girl born in New York City’s Lower East Side, who dedicated herself to her father’s Doll Hospital---the only one in the country. She helped him restore broken dolls and then went on to create some of the most beautiful dolls ever made such as The Alice Adventure Dolls and the Little Women Dolls. The story and the illustrations are gorgeous. (Madame Alexander: The Creator of the Iconic American Doll, (Feiwel and Friends/Imprint of Macmillan) 2022.

The First Notes: The Story of DO, RE, MI is a beautifully told story about the discovery of the musical scale by Guido d’ Arezzo. It is written by musical star Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton with rich illustrations by Chiara Fedele. Guido was sent to a monastery to learn Latin, math, and music. It was there where he discovered that he was using only 6 tones when he sang---no matter what the hymn! This led to the ability to write music down and impact musical training. The picture book offers history and fun for children 4-8 years of age as well as the entire family. (Little, Brown and Company) 2022.

This month on Central Stage, Sue Gamble welcomes Dr. Christopher Chapman, Director of Bands at the CMU School of Music.

Boo! Hiss! written and designed by Cyndi Marko is an engaging chapter book for readers 6-9 years of age told in a delightful graphic novel style. Boo, a little ghost, and Hiss, a little snake, have lived together very pleasantly in a vacant house for some time. When a family of humans moves in and begins to take over, the two friends devise a scare plan to drive them away. This is not as easy as Boo and Hiss first think. Fun reigns on each of the 80 pages as the ghost and the snake come to realize that together they all make a lovely family (Aladdin/ Simon and Schuster) 2022.

The Little Book of JOY is written by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams and Rachel Neumann and with outstanding illustrations by Rafael López. This beautiful picture book for readers 3-7 years of age tells the story of two boys who live on opposite sides of the world----they are lonely and long for a friend.When they stop feeling lonely and start listening to the quiet around them, they discover joy. Colorful ribbons connect everyone to this glorious feeling as they all share their joy (Crown Books for Young Readers/ Random House Children’s Books) 2022.

What Feelings Do When No One’s Looking written by Tina Ozcewicz, illustrated by Aleksandra Zajac and translated from the Polish by Jennifer Croft is a special book about more than seventy feelings! Everything about this book is thoroughly captivating. Readers 4-8 years of age will enjoy the thoughts captured in both the words and the pictures. From kindness and curiosity to more complex feelings such as courage and envy kids and family members will find much to feel and talk about (Elsewhere Editions) 2022.

Let’s Build a Little Train written by Julia Richardson and illustrated by Ryan 0’Rourke is a bright, colorful, and happy story about the designing, building, and running of a steam engine. The story is told in catchy rhymes that welcome the child to join in on the fun. Children 4-8 years of age will learn all about smokestacks, cattle catchers, pistons, and the role of the caboose. (Sleeping Bear Press, 2022).

Dr. Andrew Spencer, professor of percussion at the CMU School of Music, is Judy Wagley’s guest. We will learn about why percussionists must be very versatile, and also listen to a variety of music performed by the CMU Percussion Ensemble. You won’t want to miss a beat—Fire Up Chips!

Witch Hazel gorgeously written and illustrated by Molly Idle, a Caldicott Medal Honoree, is a beautiful story about a grandmother named Hazel and a granddaughter named Hilda. Hilda wants to hear family stories. In this case, stories are told by grandma’s magical broom as it puts forth curling white lines and twinkling stars. This is an intergenerational picture book and a triumph of storytelling for children 5-8 years of age and up (Little, Brown and Company) 2022.