Anna Maria's Gift (A Stepping Stone Book) by Janice Shefelman, illustrated by Robert Papp Ages 6-8 112 pages Random House April 2010 Hardcover     Historical fiction for newly independent readers, Anna Maria's Gift is the story of a young girl whose famous violinmaker father is dying and gives her a very special violin. He tells her that his soul has entered the violin and when she plays it, she will hear his voice. After his death, Anna travels to the Pietà, an orphanage in Venice which not only educates the girls but also teaches them music under the tutelage of Antonio Vivaldi. Anna proves herself to be the most gifted pupil in the violin, and a jealous classmate, Paolina, throws the special violin out the window into the canal. Eventually, Anna finds the violin; it has been resold to a wealthy man and given to his daughter. Understanding the importance of the instrument to the little girl, the new owners return the violin to Anna. Returning to the orphanage, Anna and Paolina reconcile and become friends, performing together special concerto composed by Vivaldi. Based on an actual school in Vienna, this straightforward and enjoyable story is perfect for girls who have just mastered the new skill of reading and are eager to tackle some “chapter books.” Robert Papp’s beautiful painting on the cover and internal pencil sketches help the reader to envision the setting, which is particularly important for young readers without much historical background knowledge. The plot is straightforward and easy to summarize. Although it would be difficult for older readers to believe that a violin could withstand the abuse of being thrown into a canal, this fact is of little importance for the age group for which the book is intended. The historical details about the girls’ life in the orphanage and their music education will fascinate readers and perhaps spur further inquiry into their own musical education or history. A glossary and historical note complete the book.     web reviews   Kristine Wildner/2010 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)