Miguel and the Grand Harmony by Matt de la Peña (review)

This picture book, a tie-in with the upcoming Pixar film Coco, is narrated by music itself ("Here I am at a packed pueblo quinceañera, swaying along with a staticky song"), reveling in the music that winds its way through town life. La Música is particularly interested in a young boy who has "music in his heart" but no opportunity to express it; in fact, music seems to be forbidden around his house, for fear it will disturb the venerable Mamá Coco. However, music slyly directs the boy to a beat-up guitar, then to an encouraging musician, and when at last he plays, it brings joy to him and to Mamá Coco. The love of music is keenly described, and the notion that by learning to play Miguel "has become part of a grand harmony" is an unusual and beautiful take on participation in the arts. However, the story is a slow starter, winding around town picturesquely for a long time until it finds Miguel and gathers momentum, and some of its elements, possibly to be explained in the movie, are unclear here—who is Mamá Coco (if she's family, why isn't she at the dinner table), and who is the man seen in flashback who reminds the narrator of Miguel? Though the packed backgrounds get overbusy at times and unbalance the compositions, there's a bit of Marjorie Priceman in the lively, slightly retro watercolors, and the warm earthtoned palette makes the little Latin American town friendly and inviting. This will be best suited to fans of the film once it comes out, but budding musicians may still appreciate the story of the young boy who finds his way to art.