Peter loves to sing but one day he loses his voice and a chance to sing in his school concert. That night Peter falls into a deep slumber and finds himself in a mystical world of talking animals, birds, and fairies. He is named Whisper Boy by the forest creatures who travel with him deep into the forest in search of his voice. Woven into the magical journey are eight key singing exercises that readers can try as they read Peter’s story. Whisper Boy Sings! is written by Claire Everton, a voice teacher of many years who has also performed in children’s musical theatre. Aimed at children aged 6 to 10, Whisper Boy Sings! highlights both the adventure that can be found in learning to sing and the delight awaiting those who find their true voice.

Claire Everton’s passion for singing and vocal health inspired her to write Whisper Boy Sings! which draws from her vast experience in singing, performing, and teaching music to children. ‘Children are a joy and I encourage them to perform,’ she says. Claire’s membership of the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing spans more than 20 years. She has taught musical theatre, jazz, rock, and pop for over 30 years. The story of Whisper Boy Sings! and the lessons embedded within are supported by the studies in children’s literature and drama which Claire has undertaken at Flinders University, and at the conferences she attends regularly, both in Australia and overseas. With an extensive experience of singing in contemporary genres, Claire’s professional engagements have included high-profile corporate events at many of Melbourne’s prominent hotels and venues. Claire also performs one-woman musical puppet shows for children – Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. Originally hailing from Adelaide, Claire has been based in Melbourne since 1981.

Customer Reviews

5.0

1 reviews

Andrea Crawford , Drama Teacher, Korowa Anglican Girls’ School

The students enjoyed listening to ‘Whisper Boy’ immensely. They related to the central character, Peter, and followed the story of how he lost his voice with interest. The handy hints for looking after your voice at the end of each chapter were valuable not just for singing, but for oral language skills in general. We found that the information presented linked in well with the way we teach cued articulation and phonemic awareness in our classroom. The magical story had a narrative that entranced the students with detailed pictures that transported them to imaginary worlds. I would recommend the story as a wonderful resource for teachers and parents to enjoy with their children, with the added bonus of learning and refining their voice skills along the way. -Leah Opie, Metone Girls Grammar Primary School Teacher This is a beautifully written story that my students, in the middle years of primary school, wanted to listen to. They were excited to follow Peter through the enchanted forest. The students enjoyed the prompts at the end of each chapter and were enthusiastic about contributing to discussions on how to protect and care for our voices. The illustrations are detailed, and the students were keen to continue reading chapter after chapter. From an educational perspective, Whisper Boy Sings is an invaluable resource for fostering empathy and understanding among students. Music and drama teachers can use this picture story book to initiate conversations about overcoming obstacles, building resilience and the importance of protecting our voice. I highly recommend this book for educators looking to engage students with meaningful literature that not only entertains but inspires.