A lyrical celebration of music, its many forms, and its importance to people across the globe.

Music is everywhere—can you hear it around you? Music might comfort you, or it might make you cry. Even if someone doesn’t know your language, they can still understand you. There are sounds to celebrate an important day and sounds to help us find courage, strength, and hope. There are notes to remind you of where you came from and to remind you of the people who came before you. Whether you love gospel choirs, piano concertos, mariachi bands, or gamelan orchestras, music can connect you with people from across our planet.

Humming with color and variety, And There Was Music is a tribute to an art form that unites humanity even as it showcases our diversity. Readers will enjoy spotting their favorite genres and instruments in the art—and using the back matter to discover even more sounds to love.