Bach to the Rescue!!! is a hilarious picture book about the unexpected origin story behind Bach's Goldberg Variations by New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger and illustrator Chris "Elio" Eliopoulos. A Junior Library Guild Selection A Midwest Booksellers Choice Award Finalist Every famous piece of art has an origin story--even Bach's Goldberg Variations! When the richest dude in town can't sleep, he hires a much-less-rich dude named Johann Gottlieb Goldberg to play him lullabies on the harpsichord. Goldberg does an OK job, but as the Rich Dude hollers for Goldberg each night, he wakes up the whole town in the process. As the town gets sleepier and sleepier and grumpier and grumpier, Goldberg worries he may be out of a job soon. But then, the one and only Bach enters the scene with a series of lullabies composed specifically for the Rich Dude. And, thus, the Goldberg Variations are born! This zany, nontraditional nonfiction picture book comes from the inimitable Tom Angleberger, author of the bestselling Origami Yoda series. Editorial Reviews 01/21/2019 Angleberger (the Origami Yoda series) takes more than a few liberties with this playful account of how Johann Sebastian Bach may have come to compose the Goldberg Variations, one of his most well-known works for harpsichord. "Once upon a time, there was a Rich Dude who couldn't sleep," the story begins. When insomnia strikes, the Rich Dude wakes up his personal harpsichord player, Goldberg (and the rest of the village, which becomes tired and tetchy), but none of Goldberg's compositions satisfy him. Then Bach arrives with the gusto of a stage magician--"I showed up! (Don't I look nice? That's my best wig!)." Bach soon composes "the Greatest Music Ever Written Ever" for Goldberg, the Rich Dude sleeps, and Goldberg is lauded by the villagers. Elio (Monster Mayhem) illustrates in exuberant cartoons, with broad, boldly outlined characters carrying exaggerated expressions. In an author's note, Angleberger describes the solace the Goldberg Variations provide him; endpapers feature musical notations from the work. Ages 4-8. (Mar.) - Publishers Weekly "Broad, simply drawn, loudly colored cartoon scenes . . . provide worthy accompaniment for the high-volume, exclamation-strewn narrative."-Kirkus Reviews "Broad, simply drawn, loudly colored cartoon scenes . . . provide worthy accompaniment for the high-volume, exclamation-strewn narrative."-Kirkus Reviews "[A] playful account of how Johann Sebastian Bach may have come to compose the Goldberg Variations."-Publishers Weekly "[A] playful account of how Johann Sebastian Bach may have come to compose the Goldberg Variations."-Publishers Weekly - From the Publisher 04/01/2019 K-Gr 3-The best-selling author of the "Origami Yoda" series delights readers with his backstory of J.S. Bach's "Goldberg Variations," loosely based on Albert Schweitzer's account which may or may not be true. A young musician named Goldberg is hired to lull a wealthy man to sleep but night after night, his usual lullabies don't work. In fact, his boss says they are too boring. Fortunately, the greatest composer of all time, Bach, shows up when the rich man is at his most tired and grumpy. Taking pieces of an old folk song, a dance-hall tune, and other "leftover notes," Bach combines them to compose what is later known as the "Goldberg Variations." As strange and difficult as the music seems ("Like being in a thunderstorm of notes!" declares one listener), it is just what is needed for the rich man to get the sleep he needs. The irreverent Angleberger paired with illustrator Elio is a winning combination. Comic style, primary colors, and bold lines offer a whimsical invitation into classical music (links for listening and downloadable sheet music are provided) and its brain-enhancing effects. The endpapers are sections of Bach's famous piece at-a-glance which underscore the music's complexity. The author/illustrator team makes even the most obscure history lessons fun and accessible. VERDICT A lively introduction to classical music for primary grades; purchase just for fun or to supplement enrichment classes.-Jane Miller, Nashville Public Library - School Library Journal 2019-01-15 How the self-styled "greatest composer ever!" created the Greatest Music Ever Written Ever for a Rich Dude who could not sleep. Improvising on a historical anecdote that he admits "may not be true," Angleberger has Bach himself explain how he created what came to be known as the "Goldberg Variations"--named for the beleaguered personal harpsichordist of a grumpy, insomniac Rich Dude unmoved by sonatinas ("Too slow!!!"), minuets ("Too fast!!!"), or toccatas ("Too toccatally!"). So how did Bach do it? "I took some leftover notes and a dance hall tune and an old folk song or something and mashed them all up, and it was the Greatest Music Ever Written Ever," he trumpets. "Yes, it's just that easy for me!" The Dude and all his likewise grumpy, sleep-deprived servants and neighbors are delighted, one of the former sighing, "each note falls into just the right spot in my brain." Some brown faces in the crowd scenes add diversity to the mostly white cast, and Elio's broad, simply drawn, loudly colored cartoon scenes otherwise provide worthy accompaniment for the high-volume, exclamation-strewn narrative. An appreciative note from the author citing a free, online recording of the work serves up a proper coda, but readers hoping to learn the Rich Dude's name or more about Bach will have to look elsewhere. Decidedly irreverent--but never disrespectful--riffs on a musical masterwork and its creator. (Picture book. 6-10) - Kirkus Reviews