The maestro plays

The Maestro Plays (1994), written by Bill Martin Jr. and illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky, is a lively, rhyming picture book that follows the eccentric Maestro as he takes the stage with a parade of instruments. The language bursts with rhythm and invention: the Maestro plays reachingly, beseechingly, flowingly, glowingly – each word stretching sound and sense into performance.

Radunsky’s hand-colored cut-paper illustrations mirror this playful spirit with bold shapes, exaggerated motion, and a riot of color. His Maestro is whimsical and dramatic, leaping across the pages with theatrical energy. Text and image together create a spirited portrait of music in motion, full of humor, rhythm, and flair.