Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion

Recommended Ages: 4-8

Written by Shannon Stocker. Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth.

From the moment Evelyn Glennie experienced her first note, she fell in love with music. She began playing the piano by ear at just eight years old and picked up the clarinet by ten. However, as the nerves in her ears deteriorated, she was told that as a deaf girl, her dreams of becoming a musician were unattainable. Undeterred, Evelyn discovered that while she couldn’t hear sounds, she could feel them vibrate through her body like a drum. This unique way of listening allowed her to create extraordinary music, and soon the world began to take notice of her incredible talent.