This is an appealing story about a little girl who meets an elderly man in the park. A piano teacher, he offers to give her lessons for free. Over the course of six months, the two come to know each other through classical music. One day, she is told that her teacher is ill and he subsequently dies. But she continues to study music and remember her teacher when she plays. This is a sweet, gentle story that would be of interest to most children in the primary grades and of particular interest to young music students. The delicate drawings are lovely.

I find I am only vaguely interested. On the one hand, there are a lot of elements to this story. Enough that it could have supported novel length allowing a full exploration of the emotional journey and familial pressures.

Mr. Mergler, Beethoven, and Me is a picturebook written by David Gutnick and illustrated by Mathilde Cinq-Mars. Not long after arriving in North America from China, a young girl and her father bump into a kind old man at their local park. They have no idea that he has been teaching young people music for over fifty years. Mr. Mergler can hear music in a way that most of us can't, and he knows this little girl has a talent that, with encouragement, will grow into something magical. He gives her a gift that will tie them together forever. This story is inspired by events in the life of Daniel Mergler—a wonderful musician who loved to teach and whose generous spirit inspires author and journalist David Gutnick to this day.

Mr. Mergler, Beethoven, and Me is a lovely picturebook about how strangers can make connections through music, and how music can effect people. I like that the story is based on real people, and the relationships that they could have built. I liked seeing the young girl connecting with the music and Mr. Mergler, and how aware she is of the fact that her family could not have afforded the lessons that Mr. Mergler offered them for free because of her love of music. I like that the connection her family made with Mr. Mergler was so real, and it was heartbreaking when he passed away. However, like many teacher of all kinds he had a huge impact on those he works with. I think this book both encourages young readers to take the chance to try to learn new thing, and to remind teachers and families how much of an impact they can have on those they take under their wing. The artwork was classic and smooth. I liked the little details with music, and emotions that shone through the illustrations.

Unfortunately the text - especially near the end (the note Mr. Mergler left) was very garbled in the eBook version which made it difficult to understand and enjoy the book. I would probably appreciate it more as a physical book.

This book brought me back to my piano playing days. I have so many memories that match those of the book and that gave me such a connection. I love the story of the old man and the young girl he is inspired by. The illustrations are beautiful and match the text and all work together to form a great story.

The illustration is fine, the story is very boring.

Oh my gosh, such a wonderful little story. The illustrations and text are both done beautifully. Growing up playing classical music and I have had a great mentor, "Mr. Mergler, Beethoven, and Me" brings back my memories, the good and the terrible ones, as I read along. I oh so wish the story would encourage my toddler son to learn to appreciate playing piano when he is such a big fan of Beethoven already. Though a short , but definitely a powerful and moving gem. Thank you, Netgallery and Second Story Press for providing the e-gallery for preview.

I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was a lovely heart-warming story.
It is easy to follow and has some beautiful illustrations.
4 stars from me - thoroughly enjoyable read for the family to share.

A cute story about a girl studying piano. There is nothing super special or unique about this book, but it is a cute autobiographical story with some sweet illustrations. The story is well told and it highlights the "magic" of music.

A lovely picture book about a young girl and her music teacher, accompanied by charming pencil illustrations.

What first caught my eye with this book was Beethoven. I grew up taking piano lessons and later violin and love Beethoven. I found it so precious the way this child was able to take piano lessons from Mr Mergler - but what was truly the most precious part of this story was learning after I read it that it is based on a real life story.

I am always a sucker for a story where people help each other out, so I was thrilled when Mr Mergler wanted to give her piano lessons. I wish there were more people in the world like Mr Mergler.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This story is about a little girl who moves to Canada from China. While in the park one day with her father they randomly meet Daniel Mergler an established and revered piano teacher. He has been teaching piano for over fifty years. He has this wonderful gift of hearing music the way most people are unable too and when he gets this little girl to sing for him he at once recognizes her talent.

He talks about giving her piano lessons but unfortunately she and her family have little money to pay him. Undeterred Mr. Mergler gives them his address and invites her to come to his house and offers to become her new piano teacher pro bono.

The little girl discovers that she excels at her music and a magical bond develops between her and her mentor. Mr. Mergler has a bust of Ludwig van Beethoven, a wonderful composer, on his piano. It was a precious gift given to him by his aunt on his ninth birthday and has resided on his piano ever since.

The little girl works hard on her lessons and soon her music flows. It's heavenly to listen to.

"When I played with no mistakes, Mr. Mergler gave me a gold star."

"One day," he said, "you will shine more brightly than all these little stars."

She and Mr. Mergler has six magical lessons together and then one morning the little girl unexpectedly gets some very bad news.

Mr. Mergler is terribly ill and has to stop giving piano lessons. Oh my! The little girl gets two beautiful surprises from her beloved teacher, a heartfelt note assuring her of her extraordinary musical prowess and the other a personal gift that she will treasure her whole life long.

The book expresses the powerful impact that music has on its creators, its makers, and the appreciative receivers of their talents. The book is a beautiful tribute to a true musical genius who changes his student's life by encouraging and teaching them how transformational music can be.

The illustrations are soft, subdued and gentle adding a lovely richness to the text. I highly recommend this book.

Such a beautiful little book about piano music, friendship without the concern of age differences and Beethoven.

Mr. Mergler, Beethoven, and Me was a beautiful, heartfelt story. The idea of feeling music was felt throughout the book. This was a story that you not only read the words, but felt the emotions as you read. This is a story that there is no turning back from. Once you read it, it is part of you. This is a book that belongs in every music class, with every music teacher and should be read to every child wanting to play music. The value of connections: to people, music and your surroundings plays a HUGE role in this story. I don't have enough good things to say about this treasure!

This is a charming picture book about music, passion, and the love of a natural teacher for his students and his subject. A wonderful book fro young children as they first get exposed to music.

ARC...Very beautiful watercolour illustrations and message of music contacting people beyond age or cultural differences.

Mr. Mergler, Beethoven, and Me is a sweet story about a girl and her father who have a chance meeting with Daniel Mergler, a respected piano teacher, near the end of his life. It's written in first person from the perspective of the girl (who is not named in the book), and she describes how she came to have piano lessons from Mr. Mergler.

Mr. Mergler has a bust of Beethoven on his piano, which has been there for decades. The girl thinks he looks angry, but over time, as she learns more and more about the technique and magic of music, she sees him in a more friendly light.

The illustrations are lovely, using gentle, subdued tones, and portraying the teaching of music as growth of plants.

After reading this story, I immediately wondered whether or not it was true. The end notes give a brief biography of Beethoven and Daniel Mergler, but told nothing about the girl or her parents -- but the story seems oddly specific to be fictional. This led me to Mr. Mergler's Gift, a short documentary film made in Canada, which identifies the girl in the story as Xin Ben, the daughter of Chinese immigrants. This book appears to be based on the documentary, and since it's a documentary, that answers my question as to whether this book is based on a true story.

I really enjoyed this wonderful picture of the power of music, and the tribute to the love and guidance that music teachers show to their students.

(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)

This is a beautifully illustrated and gentle story for young readers. Each of the 32 pages are rendered in pen, ink and watercolor by illustrator Mathilde Cinq-Mars.
The text is written simply and eloquently by David Gutnik. The story follows a young Chinese girl who meets Mr. Mergler with her father in the park and becomes the latest of his many piano students. It's a poignant story and I was surprised to learn that Mr. Mergler was real, and the basic elements of the story were true. There's an afterword with a short biography of both Mr. Mergler and Beethoven.

I loved the art and the story was honestly written. I have experienced the joy and enrichment which comes from music myself, and Mr. Mergler seems to have been a wonderful and generous man whose lifelong dedication to teaching and inspiring hundreds of students over his lifetime is a fitting tribute.

Four stars.

Anticipated release date: 18th April 2018 from Second Story Press

This picture book is based on two real people, Daniel Mergler and Beethoven. We have all heard of Beethoven, but how many know of Daniel Mergler, who despite his talent desired to use his skills to pass on his love of music to his students, rather than play before audiences.

This story imagines what it would have been like to take classes from him, as the girl did in this story. I love how her love of music and his, is described as the hours flying away, and time stopping all together when they played.

It is a sweet story.

A good way to honor a man, and a good way to describe the love of music that some have at an early age.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.