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“An ambitious portrait of a storied humanitarian with a clear message of advocacy.”
—Publishers Weekly

Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma

Written by Joanna Ho
Illustrated by Teresa Martinez
Published by HarperCollins

Before Yo-Yo Ma became one of the most renowned and celebrated cellists, he wanted to play the double bass. But it was too big for his four-year-old hands. Over time, Ma honed his amazing talent, and his music became a reflection of his own life between borders, cultures, disciplines, and generations. Since then, he has recorded over a hundred albums, won nineteen Grammy Awards, performed for eight American presidents, and received the National Medal of the Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, just to name a few accomplishments.

Staying true to himself, Yo-Yo Ma performed at the US-Mexico border at the Rio Grande on April 13, 2019, as part of his multicontinent “Bach Project” tour to prove a point—through music, we can build bridges rather than walls between different cultures.

Joanna Ho’s lyrical writing and Teresa Martinez’s vibrant art weave together to tell an inspiring story of Yo-Yo Ma, who challenges conventions, expectations, and beliefs in order to build bridges to unite communities, people, and cultures.

Primary ISBN: 9780062994547
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 04 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , ,

Setting: United States, Mexico

Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: Unknown Arrival

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