An illustrated book about the power of music, and the bond between a young boy and his grandfather.
Coming soon from Penguin Random House Canada is a beautiful collaboration between writer Melanie Florence and illustrator Matt James. The One About The Blackbird may be intended for the children’s market, but it is far and away more than a children’s book.
Melanie Florence is a celebrated Canadian author who has published more than 20 books in the past fifteen years. Among them are several illustrated books for younger children, and five young adult novels. In addition she has also published serious non-fiction.
Matt James is an award-winning painter, illustrator, writer, and musician. He is an international best-selling author who won the Governor-General’s Literary Award for his illustrations to Northwest Passage, a tribute to the Stan Rogers song.
This new book is the first collaboration between Melanie and Matt, and is a complete success in content, design, and execution. It was a sheer pleasure to view and read prior to its fall 2025 release.
The bond between a young boy who loves the way his grandfather plays the guitar begins the book. The illustrations by Matt James are delightful, showing the interplay between them that revolves around their mutual love of music. The picture below show how they spend time together: the grandfather strums his guitar in front of his vast library of vinyl records, while the grandson Jack looks on in deep appreciation. Jack especially loves the song about a blackbird, hence the title of the book.
The grandfather teaches the boy to form chords on the guitar, despite the fact that steel strings are hard for young fingers to press. Gradually Jack learns to play, and music eventually becomes his career. He travels all over the world, playing to large crowds, always taking his favourite vinyl records with him.
Years later he visits his grandfather, who has forgotten how to play the guitar. In a moving circle moment, Jack strums their favourite song, “The One About The Blackbird.” The music stirs his grandfather’s memory; he smiles and taps his toes in time to the song. It’s a wonderful moment that reveals the permanence of their bond and the power of music to restore a fading memory.
Together, the story and the pictures are much more than the sum of their parts, rendering the book a keepsake for all time.
The One About The Blackbird can be pre ordered in print form through Penguin Random House Canada, and will be available in bookstores later this month. The e-book will soon be available on all major streaming platforms.
Highly recommended for all ages.
