0
    • Close Modal
    0 0
    Download high-resolution image Look inside

    Beatrice and the Nightingale

    Author Patricia Newman
    Illustrated by Isabelle Follath
    Look inside
    Hardcover
    $19.99 US
    Candlewick | Margaret Quinlin Books
    10.3"W x 10.29"H x 0.37"D   | 18 oz | 26 per carton
    On sale Feb 10, 2026 | 48 Pages | 9781682637272
    Age 6-9 years | Grades 1-4
    Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies

    additional book photo
    additional book photo
    additional book photo
    In 1924, an audience of more than one million listeners across the world listened in amazement to the first live radio broadcast of a nightingale accompanying the young cellist Beatrice Harrison.

    On May 19, 1924, a duet between a young cellist and a nightingale was broadcast across the British Commonwealth as far away as Canada, India, and Australia to over one million listeners. It was an unprecedented collective experience made possible by the invention of the radio and a new microphone that picked up sounds of nature.

    Beatrice Harrison, one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century and a musical prodigy, had a singular dedication to music from a very early age.  At only eighteen months old, Beatrice attended her first concert. She was bewitched by the sound and shape of the cello, and immediately began asking to play it. When she was eight, she got her first cello, and her family traveled the world so she could study with the best teachers, and her career began to take off.

    One evening while Beatrice was practicing her cello in the garden, she heard a creature repeating the music she was playing. It turned out to be a nightingale. She played many nights with the bird and was completely enthralled.

    Wanting to share the experience, she convinced the head of the newly formed BBC to take a chance on a live broadcast from her garden. The resulting duet was a smashing success and Beatrice became known as the Lady of the Nightingales.

    This biography shares the fascinating story behind a broadcast that became a BBC tradition, and highlights the way art, technology, and nature can work together to create new and lasting beauty.  Young musicians and birders alike will be inspired by this incredible story.
    Newman’s lyrical prose is heavily studded with figurative language, engaging readers’ senses with descriptions of music. . . . Follath’s ink-and-watercolor illustrations provide perfect accompaniment for the dreamlike language. . . . Share with budding environmentalists and all those readers with a keen interest in music.
    —School Library Journal

    With a nod to [Beatrice’s]Edwardian world, the precise yet charming ink and watercolor illustrations work seamlessly to extend the vibrant story and to set the scene for Beatrice’s lifelong interest in nature and music. A charming look into an unusual musical collaboration.
    —Kirkus Reviews

    This wonderfully whimsical account, based on Beatrice’s actual life, is a gentle gem of a story. Charming ink-and-watercolor illustrations . . . exuberantly conceptualize the music as swirling strands of symbols and sparkles. . . . A delightful introduction to a lesser-known life, and a welcome reminder of the wonder that exists in the natural world.
    —Booklist
    About the Author

    PATRICIA NEWMAN wants us all to know that we are part of nature. As  a Robert F. Sibert Honor recipient, she empowers us to find our own connections to nature and encourages us to use our imaginations to make the world a better place. Patricia’s love of nature and her own efforts to play piano seemed the ideal backdrop for this story about the intersection of nature,music, and STEM subjects.

    Patricia frequently speaks at schools and conferences to share how children of any age can affect change. She is creating a teacher’s guide to accompany this book.

    ISABELLE FOLLATH is a freelance illustrator living in Zurich, Switzerland with her husband and daughter. Having worked for advertising agencies, fashion magazines and book publishers for over 15 years, her true passion lies in illustrating children’s books. She loves drawing all sorts of characters, mixing colors, and drinking an alarming amount of coffee. When she is not illustrating you can find her searching for the perfect vintage pen nib or trying to rearrange her watercolors of which she has far too many.
    Patricia Newman View titles by Patricia Newman
    Isabelle Follath View titles by Isabelle Follath

    Book Trailer

    Photos

    additional book photo
    additional book photo
    additional book photo

    About

    In 1924, an audience of more than one million listeners across the world listened in amazement to the first live radio broadcast of a nightingale accompanying the young cellist Beatrice Harrison.

    On May 19, 1924, a duet between a young cellist and a nightingale was broadcast across the British Commonwealth as far away as Canada, India, and Australia to over one million listeners. It was an unprecedented collective experience made possible by the invention of the radio and a new microphone that picked up sounds of nature.

    Beatrice Harrison, one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century and a musical prodigy, had a singular dedication to music from a very early age.  At only eighteen months old, Beatrice attended her first concert. She was bewitched by the sound and shape of the cello, and immediately began asking to play it. When she was eight, she got her first cello, and her family traveled the world so she could study with the best teachers, and her career began to take off.

    One evening while Beatrice was practicing her cello in the garden, she heard a creature repeating the music she was playing. It turned out to be a nightingale. She played many nights with the bird and was completely enthralled.

    Wanting to share the experience, she convinced the head of the newly formed BBC to take a chance on a live broadcast from her garden. The resulting duet was a smashing success and Beatrice became known as the Lady of the Nightingales.

    This biography shares the fascinating story behind a broadcast that became a BBC tradition, and highlights the way art, technology, and nature can work together to create new and lasting beauty.  Young musicians and birders alike will be inspired by this incredible story.

    Praise

    Newman’s lyrical prose is heavily studded with figurative language, engaging readers’ senses with descriptions of music. . . . Follath’s ink-and-watercolor illustrations provide perfect accompaniment for the dreamlike language. . . . Share with budding environmentalists and all those readers with a keen interest in music.
    —School Library Journal

    With a nod to [Beatrice’s]Edwardian world, the precise yet charming ink and watercolor illustrations work seamlessly to extend the vibrant story and to set the scene for Beatrice’s lifelong interest in nature and music. A charming look into an unusual musical collaboration.
    —Kirkus Reviews

    This wonderfully whimsical account, based on Beatrice’s actual life, is a gentle gem of a story. Charming ink-and-watercolor illustrations . . . exuberantly conceptualize the music as swirling strands of symbols and sparkles. . . . A delightful introduction to a lesser-known life, and a welcome reminder of the wonder that exists in the natural world.
    —Booklist

    Author

    About the Author

    PATRICIA NEWMAN wants us all to know that we are part of nature. As  a Robert F. Sibert Honor recipient, she empowers us to find our own connections to nature and encourages us to use our imaginations to make the world a better place. Patricia’s love of nature and her own efforts to play piano seemed the ideal backdrop for this story about the intersection of nature,music, and STEM subjects.

    Patricia frequently speaks at schools and conferences to share how children of any age can affect change. She is creating a teacher’s guide to accompany this book.

    ISABELLE FOLLATH is a freelance illustrator living in Zurich, Switzerland with her husband and daughter. Having worked for advertising agencies, fashion magazines and book publishers for over 15 years, her true passion lies in illustrating children’s books. She loves drawing all sorts of characters, mixing colors, and drinking an alarming amount of coffee. When she is not illustrating you can find her searching for the perfect vintage pen nib or trying to rearrange her watercolors of which she has far too many.
    Patricia Newman View titles by Patricia Newman
    Isabelle Follath View titles by Isabelle Follath

    Media

    Book Trailer

    Other Books by this Author

    Related Articles

    Adults Children's General All Gift Blog

    Live Inspired with Compendium: Now Available from PRH!

    Exciting news! Compendium has joined the Penguin Random House family, bringing a proven line of bestselling, sentiment-driven gifts to our extensive and ever-growing catalog. Since 1985, Compendium has been creating meaningful moments with beautiful, thoughtfully made gifts that center connection and celebrate occasions both big and small. From greeting cards to inspirational books to impulse-friendly add-ons, Compendium

    Read more

    Live Inspired with Compendium: Now Available from PRH!

    Adults Children's General All Gift Blog

    Penguin Random House Retail

    © 2026 Penguin Random House

    Back to Top
    0
    Wish List (0)