Mr. Mergler, Beethoven, and Me
Not long after arriving in Canada from China, a young girl and her father bump into a kind old man at their local park. They have no idea that he has been teaching young people music for over fifty years. Mr. Mergler can hear music in a way that most of us can’t, and he knows that this little girl has a talent that, with encouragement, will grow into something magical. He offers to give her music lessons, a gift that will tie them together forever.
This story is inspired by events in the life of Daniel Mergler—a wonderful musician who loved to teach and whose generous spirit inspires author and journalist David Gutnick to this day.
By David Gutnick and Illustrated by Mathilde Cinq-Mars
Ages 7-10
32 pages, picture book
2018
Second Story Press was co-founded in 1988 by Margie Wolfe and three other women dedicated to publishing feminist-inspired books for adults and young readers. For 30 years Second Story Press has published books that matter, many of which have been translated into over 50 languages and have been sold around the world. Their list spans adult fiction and nonfiction; children’s fiction, nonfiction and picture books; and young adult fiction and nonfiction. Second Story Press continues to look for stories that feature strong female characters and explore themes of social justice, human rights, equality, and ability issues.
David Gutnick makes radio documentaries for CBC/Radio-Canada. Over the past 30 years he's done stories on former child slaves in Togo, secret religious services in Beijing, and ballet dancers in an American maximum-security prison. He also writes about art and trains for Ironman triathlons. David lives in Montreal with his wife and dog, and has a grown daughter and stepson.
Mathilde Cinq-Mars is a graduate of the Université de Strasbourg in visual arts. She works as a freelance illustrator for many publishers and magazines. She lives and works in Trois-Rivières, Québec, with her daughter.