Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

Ada Ríos lives in Cateura, Paraguay - a town built on a landfill where many residents work as garbage pickers. She discovers music through her grandmother's cooking pots and through free lessons offered by a teacher named Favio Chávez. When there aren't enough instruments for all the students, Chávez teams up with a carpenter to create violins, cellos, and other instruments from materials found in the landfill. The children form an orchestra and begin practicing with their recycled instruments. The Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay grows from a local youth music program into something much larger, bringing their unique story and sound to audiences far beyond their town. This true story demonstrates how creativity and determination can transform difficult circumstances into opportunity. The book explores themes of community, resourcefulness, and the universal power of music to inspire change.

Readers appreciate this book's true story of resilience and creativity in the face of poverty. Parents and teachers note it works well as a teaching tool about recycling, perseverance, and music appreciation. The illustrations by Sally Wern Comport receive frequent mention for their textured, collage-like style. Liked: - Age-appropriate handling of serious topics - Clear explanations of how instruments were made - Inclusion of actual photos at the end - Bilingual Spanish/English phrases throughout Disliked: - Some found the story oversimplified - A few readers wanted more technical details about instrument construction Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (280+ ratings) "The perfect balance between addressing poverty and celebrating creativity," wrote one teacher on Goodreads. An Amazon reviewer noted: "This book shows children how to make something beautiful out of what others throw away."

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🎻 Author Susan Hood conducted extensive research for this book, including traveling to Paraguay and meeting Ada Ríos and the Recycled Orchestra in person. 🗑️ The real-life instruments featured in the story are made from items found in Cateura's landfill, including oil drums, tin cans, fork tines, and even x-ray films used as drum heads. 🌎 The Recycled Orchestra has performed worldwide, including venues in Brazil, Germany, Japan, and even at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. 🎵 Ada Ríos, the book's protagonist, began learning violin at age 11 and continues to inspire young musicians as a teacher in the recycled orchestra program. 📚 The book has earned multiple awards, including the Green Earth Book Award and the Christopher Award, which celebrates media that affirms the highest values of the human spirit.