As a young child, Yo-Yo Ma lived with his musical family in Paris. Unlike his sister and father, he did not want to play violin. He wanted a bigger instrument, so at age four he got a cello. He flourished under the tutelage of Paris’s best cello teacher. Able to play an entire Bach cello suite from memory, his incredible musical talent was apparent early. At age seven, his family moved to New York City, where he performed with his sister on television and for the President. At the time, though he was a well-trained musician, it took and additional practice before Yo-Yo was able to play the cello with true feeling and from his heart. As he became a teenager, he worked to determine who he was outside of the expectations placed on him; eventually, he made the decision to go to college not for music but for anthropology. His interest in people and cultures inspired him to journey around the world learning about musical traditions, and to make music with people who were strangers. In this way, Yo-Yo Ma became his own best self and the world’s best cello player. The fresh tone of this inspiring text was written by cellist James Howe (of Bunnicula fame) and illustrated with intimate beauty by Jack Wong.

From a bestselling and award-winning team comes a moving, gorgeously illustrated picture-book biography of one of the greatest cellists of all time, Yo-Yo Ma, and his lifelong passion for using music to unite people in harmony and joy.

“I’ve been asking myself all my life, ‘What is the purpose of music?’” –Yo-Yo Ma

4 starred reviews! "Will move some readers to tears and make them think about the special gifts each person possesses." (Kirkus)

At a young age, Yo-Yo Ma discovered a remarkable gift for the cello, playing Bach from memory by age four. His technique was far beyond his years, but even as he grew and became a world-class musician—studying at Juilliard, performing at Carnegie Hall at a young age, even playing on television before the president of the United States—he wanted to use his gift for something deeper, something bigger.

As he asked question after question, trying to understand his place in the world, he discovered something that every culture has in common: music.

Ma decided that he would spend his life not only performing for others, but learning from other cultures’ musical traditions and finding ways to unite people. Even as he dedicated himself to humanitarian work around the world, Ma also dedicated himself to teaching a new generation of young cellists to play with their whole hearts, bodies, and souls, like he does—how to find the music inside themselves.

From James Howe, bestselling author of Bunnicula, and Jack Wong, award-winning author/illustrator of When You Can Swim, comes the story of legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who is special not only because of his unmatched talent but also his curious mind and compassionate heart. Powerfully told and stunningly illustrated, this biography will inspire readers to discover the gifts inside us all.

Back matter includes an author’s and an illustrator’s note, a timeline of Ma’s life, and resources to learn more about his life and work.