The Trumpet of the Swan: Full Color Edition

Although the description of THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN Kindle book reads "Length: 284 pages (Contains Real Page Numbers)", the Page function (under the "Go to..." feature when you press Menu on my Kindle Keyboard) is greyed out -- there are NO page numbers available. Why the store doesn't add a little more information (i.e., that the Page Numbers aren't available to all Kindles) to the description is beyond me.

The book arrived earlier than I expected it to. The book was in excellent condition, much better I expected.
The story is very well-written, and a pleasure to read with my children. If you have never read the books of E. B. White, they are well worth reading. :)

While this story pales in comparison to Charlotte's Web, E.B. White still manages to bring a world of imagination to life in this narrative where humans and animals interact. Though my 6th grade students found the anthropomorphism silly at their age, they still enjoyed the imaginative aspect of the story. They were able to dissect the story further than younger children may have been able to, and discovered moral conflict and ethical dilemmas that could extend to the human world. Not only that, but his book is an excellent way to introduce anthropomorphism and onomatopoeia as literary techniques. The characters were endearing, and set the tone for an adventure in morality.

The weakest of E.B.White's classics. The realistic, naturalistic opening chapters are wonderful. Then the story turns to the familiar territory of animals as humans. It worked so well in "Charlotte's Web" and "Stuart Little"; less so here. One realizes how much Garth Williams' illustrations also contributed to White's earlier books.

I was surprised when the word defective was used to describe Louis. Now a days we would never use such a word because it isn't pc but it really is the truth. Louis had a defect and EBWhite didn't shy away from calling it what it was. Then he proceeded to show how a defect can put us on the road to a wonderful life. If Louis didn't have a defect he never would have become a Trumpeter.

Even though this book is mainly classified as a juvenile lit book, there is something to be said for how perfect, minimalist, and truly direct White's prose style is. I think the last time I read this, I was seven years old – just around the age that my son is as we have read this during bedtime over the past month. Reading it as an MFA student at thirty-six, it is easy to recognize the strength of the narrative, appreciate the structure of the tale, and simply be impressed at how perfect of a novel it is. The final two or three chapters floored me, in a manner that I was not necessarily shocked but rather unexpectedly touched by the execution of the ending.In today's day and age, and reading it as a person whose reading is incredibly extensive, even I can recognize that this is very hard to do with a book like this in the twentieth century and beyond... This book recognizes how important it is to execute flawless plot, sentences, meaningful characters, and the ability to callback to other parts of the book. A great reading experience, and something I truly want to strive to emulate in my work. There is nothing more enjoyable than rereading something you read as a kid and not only still enjoying it, not only realizing it still holds up, but also understanding so much more about what the piece is in its very nature. This is one such book – true magic.

The Trumpet of the Swan, Louise is unable to trumpet. This means he cannot trumpet to the swan he thinks is the most beautiful. Meeting a boy Sam, sitting on a rock, Louise asked for his help. Louise learns to read and write, but the other swans can’t. A trumpet was stolen for him; he felt he needed to repay the storekeeper for it. Louis had to leave his home to earn some money. Sam helped Louise to get his first job. Louise took a job at Camp Kookooskoos, then in Boston at the Swan boats and in Philadelphia at the Zoo. Earnings lots money and learning to play music, Louise still missed Serena. Then one day before Christmas there was terrible storm. This storm blew his Serena right across America to him in Philadelphia. Louise was finally able to communicate with her using his trumpet. Louise and Serena went back home to give the money he earned to pay for the trumpet.
The Trumpet of the Swan showed Louise’s courage for going out in the world and leaving his family. He showed his courage and his honor, learning to communicate with both people and swans. I admired his courage for going back to pay for the trumpet and for always loving Serena. Stick with it and never give up on your dreams.

This was another childhood book that had been read to us by an elementary teacher. It is full of lessons that are still good to learn although re-reading the book as an adult makes it to lose some charm as you wonder how wild swans know so much of humans when they avoid them.

The writing is simple and easy for young readers while educating children a bit on swans. Sat the same there are adorable illustrations - some are simplistic and others quite detailed.

All in all this is a childhood classic that should be shared and passed to newer generations.

Acquired: Purchased a used copy at a book/garage sale or thrift shop.

Reason for Reading: I've picked a bookshelf to randomly read my own books from this year and this is my first read from that shelf. This is a perennial favourite of mine.

I've read this several times now. Originally as a child, then as an adult, again as a read aloud to my eldest son, and now once more and the book still has not lost its charm for me. This is going to make a nice bedtime read for dh and ds and I'll be putting it in their pile. Trumpet is my favourite of White's three children's novels. Louis is an unassuming hero, with a sense of right and wrong, dignity and someone who works hard to get what he wants out of life. Born without a voice, he gets by until he is old enough for mating season. Then, of course, he can't attract the female he is in love with so his father heads to the city and steals a trumpet for him. Louis is so thankful, he learns to play, but first he must earn money to pay back his father's debt both for the trumpet and the damage he did to the store and thus follows the story of Louis' adventures as he earns a living at various venues first playing as a bugler and then after a slight operation to one foot learning the full use of the trumpet. He becomes famous in the towns and cities he plays in but his heart is always set on earning the money, so he can get back to his family and his lady love. He also repeatedly is assisted and visited by Sam Beaver, a boy he met when he was just a newly hatched gosling.

It is a simple story, possibly considered slow to some compared to more modern fare but it tells a good tale. It's a story of good people, animals mostly with good human qualities and both Sam and Louis are good role models, they type of person we all want to be like someday. Though written in the seventies, there isn't really much to place the story in time. There are a few instances when this is brought to the reader's attention; I remember the word "hippie" but otherwise the book is quaint and could be taking place in any time period of the more mannered, politer past. A lovely story, sure to be enjoyed by animal lovers.

One of my goals in reading books from this random shelf is to move books out of the house that are not going to be part of my permanent collection, but this one is a keeper. I had wanted to get the hardcover, collector's edition to match Charlotte's Web & Stuart Little that I have, which have both been respectfully colourized. But when I saw the hardcover version of this I also saw that the illustrations had been completely redone by a new illustrator so I took a pass on getting that version. In fact, the paperback versions include the new illustrations as well. The original illustrations don't seem to be available in any currently available new editions. So I'm keeping this edition, which is the exact same one that I had as a kid.

This book makes you suspend reality a bit, but it is a very nice read and entirely unique. I remember reading it as a child and liking the tale, and some words from the book always stuck in my head ("Montana banana banana!").

Louis is a Trumpeter Swan who cannot trumpet. That's right, he was born without the ability of speech. To overcome this, he enlists the help of a boy who saw his birth, Sam Beaver, and sets out to go to school to learn to read and write. Finding this skill is not good enough in the swan community though, his father robs a music store and brings him back a trumpet so that he may make noise too. Louis loves his trumpet but feels deeply terrible about what his father had to do. He decides to take jobs and earn money to pay the shopkeeper back and so begins his adventure of traveling around, earning money, and pleasing people. One thing is foremost in his mind though, to gain the love of Serena, a beautiful swan back home.

Louis is a very interesting swan and he would have to be with all of the things he does in this book. His father is a little more annoying though and I'm quite glad that he plays a small role in the book. But one thing that really disturbs me about this book (and could be a spoiler) is that Louis makes an agreement to give the zoo some of his babies, in return for his wife's freedom. That just sounds horribly like child slavery to me (well at least for swans) and kind of dampened the book for me while reading it as an adult. It was just disturbing.

The writing is appropriate for children although there is a derogatory comment about hippies and a few other strange things in the book. Mostly though it is an adventuresome tale about a special swan and it could teach a few lessons in how to treat animals.

I do like the book and think its charming. Definitely a good read for a rainy day.

The Trumpet of the Swan
Copyright 1970
210 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2011

Louis is a Trumpeter Swan whose species are nearly extinct.He is born without a voice and won't be able to woo pretty female swans or communicate with his parents and his siblings.Sam,an animal lover befriends Louis and helps him read and write.Very extraordinary! I have never heard of an animal who can read and write.When Louis comes home,he wears a slate and chalk pencil around his elegant neck.He wrote on his slate,"Hi,there!".Unfortunately,Louis's parents don't understand what he is trying to say.His father says,"But I must prolong my welcoming remarks a bit longer,for my curiousity is aroused by that odd litle object Louis is wearing around his neck and by the strange symbols he has placed upon it by rubbing that white thing up and down and leaving those strange white symbols".I really laughed my head out.Louis falls in love with a beautiful swan,Serena.He writes down on his slate,"I love you".Meanwhile,Louis's father steals a trumpet from a music shop to help Louis to communicate.Louis tries very hard to play the trumpet and suceeds to play a note"Ko-hoh".He asks Sam to cut his webbed foot so then he could play the trumpet better as there are three valves that you have to play so that you can make many tunes.Many adventures happen.But then will Louis will be able to woo the lovely Serena whom he has fallen in love with at first sight? I recommend this to all children who love animals like me.

Louis, a trumpeter swan, was hatched without a voice and so is unable to win a mate, even though with the help of his human friend Sam, he has learned to read and write. Out of paternal love, Louis' father breaks into a music store and steals a trumpet for Louis to use in courtship of the beautiful Serena. But Louis is too honorable to simply accept the stolen instrument -- he learns to play it, then hires out his musical ability until he can pay back the store owner. Throughout his adventures are woven adventure, romance, absurdity, and White's perceptive view of human nature.

The Trumpet of the Swan is an exceptionally creative work, reminiscent in different ways of Make Way for Ducklings, Charlotte's Web, and Homer Price, but unique unto itself. The reader will finish the book not only having had a good time, but appreciating the value of love and music, work and family, as well as knowing a little more about the habits of trumpeter swans. It's an outstanding choice for a read-aloud.

[Audiobook Review only]
The gravelly-voiced White has never been one to mince words or present a "disney-fied" view of life even in his kids' stories. His characters are real, their problems gritty and even his talking swans, spiders, pigs and mice are faithfully true to real life -- not the slick, "animated" version of life most kiddie authors dish out.
Trumpet of the Swan is no exception; parents who have long enjoyed the book form of this classic will love the extra zest White's flat (yet mysteriously expressive) drawl adds to the narrative. As in his writing, White speaks his story as if he really believed it, as if he really loved it, as if the uncertain fate of one plucky swan has meaning for every one of us, which -- of course -- it does.
Even the most cynical modern kids will enjoy sharing Sam's adventures, and the sheer length of this recording makes it an excellent travelling companion on long trips. On our recent vacation, we listened to it all the way out to the Canadian Rockies and back, and the kids (5 and 6) were content throughout.
As with White's other children's books, older kids and adults will get a kick out of many references (like Sam's slightly sleazy "agent") that little kids might not catch, making this a hit for the entire family. This audiobook is a bargain at any price. Don't leave home without it!

Love, love, love that E.B.White narrated this himself! He doesn't read with a ton of feeling or emotion - just reads it straight - as he wrote it - and his narration is perfect! This was my favorite story as a child and I loved listening to it as an adult. We have Trumpeter Swans that winter in fields near my house so we have a great affection for these beautiful creatures! Highly recommend this audio book!

"The Trumpet of the Swan," although not as famous as White's other two books for children, is a true classic. It is timeless in its appeal to genuine sentiment. Just about every character in this story seems thoughtful and caring. I suppose that could be considered unrealistic, but then so is the idea of a swan that can read and write and play a trumpet. White seems to be saying that the world, at its best, could be a place of peace and integrity. I think he believes that we should all strive for the kind of happiness Louis finds in the simple pleasures of life, joyful to be alive on a beautiful planet. That isn't easy when we seem surrounded by cruelty and pain. But to live in peace with oneself and with all creatures and with the earth itself . . . Well, E. B. White certainly isn't the only person who has said such things. He is in very good company indeed.

Set initially in the wilderness of Canada, a young boy from Montana happens upon a delightful couple of Trumpeter Swans and their cygnets. One of the swan couple's cherished offspring has shown the unfortunate "defect" of an inability to make sounds. The boy takes the young swan to school where it learns to write with a slate and chalk. But when the young cygnet returns to his family, he is discouraged to discover that this newly found skill will do no good amongst his own kind. Knowing that his deficit will certainly prevent their son from attracting a mate, the father cob sacrificially sets out to remedy the matter by stealing a trumpet from a pawn shop. Determined to pay his father's debt, Louis undertakes a series of employment opportunities using his skills of writing and playing trumpet.

This story is about overcoming challenges and unconditional love. It is a precious and humorous tale with a heart. EXCELLENT!

I love this story. Some imaginative, playful, and evocative. I love how John Updike reviewed it in the New York Times:

"While not quiet so sprightly as Stuart Little, and less rich in personalities and incident than Charlotte's Web [my favorite childhood book and movie] -- The Trumpet of the Swan has superior qualities of its own; it is the most spacious and serene of the three, the one most imbued with the author's sense of the precious instinctual heritage represented by wild nature."

Opening with a brief lesson in ornithology this touching story introduces fans of Charlotte and Stuart to a third endearing animal protagonist: Louis, a mute trumpeter swan. Since this breed of swans requires vocal ability to court a mate his parents are concerned that he will be handicapped in love and possibly condemned to remain a lonely bachelor. After long-winded speeches the old cob (his father) crashes through the window of a music store in order to steal a musical instrument: a trumpet--what else! Now his son has a voice and can take his rightful place in swan society.

Befriended by kindly Sam, a boy at a summer camp in Canada, who seems to practically read his mind, Louis--a swan with scrupoles--undertakes a lifelong odyssey to repay his father's debt
and restore the family name. (It's amazing how much swans can pick up from hanging out with humankind...) Louis gradually succeeds in paying off the debt by doing a series of jobs: as camp bugler, an entertainer on Boston Swan Boats, then a bugler in Philadelphia. At the Philadelphia Zoo he meets and woos his beloved Serena, but how to secure her liberty from caged bondage? As the pair realizes: Freedom is free. EBW needs a creative literary fix.

The author also intertwines some serious social themes in this delightful tale about a swan with a conscience: Are children supposed to assume the debts of their parents? Are parents justified in theft in order to benefit their offspring? Are parents justified in placing their offspring in bondage to fulfill their own moral obligations? Of course such deep concepts will not bother most young readers, but other themes are gently instructive for children: the value of being an individual (swan or human) and the implication that people have a moral obligation to help animals in distress. Although this cute story can not compare with CHARLOTTE'S WEB or STUART LITTLE, it remains a charming addition to children's literature--for children of all ages!

Somehow I missed reading this book as a child, and I am so happy that I was able to enjoy it now as an adult, with my children. My 10 and 9 year old boys--these are kids who have inhaled the Warrior series, Rangers' Apprentice series, everything by Rick Riordan--loved the book. I read it aloud to my 6 year old daughter, and I couldn't put down the last third of the book. My daughter's attention remained rapt throughout. The book has a sweet and authentic voice, with plenty of humor and adventure to keep the pages turning. The fact that Louis the Swan has a disability that he overcomes is not what primarily moved me (although that was a wonderful aspect); what captured me was the unexpected combination of nature beautifully told with the most improbable (and therefore very amusing) plot twists. A swan in first grade? A swan playing the trumpet? A swan spending the night at the Ritz? It is all so delightful. And I just adored Louis's father, whose proud and narcissistic speeches were hilariously charming. Truly a story with a heart of gold.