The First Notes

• “Gentle yet expressive illustrations pay tribute to these accomplishments with square patterns, illuminated manuscripts, and other cultural details from the time period. Note-able, indeed!”–Booklist* “A charming collaboration that strikes just the right notes.”–Kirkus Reviews“Andrews and Hamilton’s step-by-step prose, and Fedele’s colored pencil, gouache, and watercolor illustrations of vibrant Italian landscapes…successfully combine to evoke strong emotions around Guido’s eventual success.”–Publishers Weekly

Julie Andrews’s legendary career encompasses the Broadway and London stages, as well as multiple films, television shows, album releases, concert tours, directing assignments, and the world of children’s publishing. In 2000 the title of Dame Commander of the British Empire was bestowed upon her by Queen Elizabeth II for lifetime achievements in the arts and humanities. Her many other honors include a Kennedy Center honor in the fall of 2001. She was married to film director Blake Edwards for forty-one years, and the couple have five children, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Emma Walton Hamilton is an award-winning writer, producer and arts educator. Together with her mother, Julie Andrews, she has written over thirty books for children and young adults, including the New York Times bestselling Very Fairy Princess series. Emma is on the faculty of Stony Brook University’s MFA in Creative Writing, where she serves as director of the Children’s Lit Fellows and the Young Artists and Writers Project.

Chiara Fedele was born in Milan, Italy. She has a degree in Illustration from La Scuola del Fumetto in Milan, and has illustrated numerous picture books and received several awards, such as the 3 3 international illustration award merit in 2019. She currently lives in Italy with her family and pets.

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