As Glenn As Can Be: An Inspiring Children’s Book About Glenn Gould’s Early Life

AS GLENN AS CAN BE
Groundwood Books / House of Anansi

As part of the celebrations of Glenn Gould’s 90th Anniversary Year, we are delighted to welcome the newest addition to the Gould bibliography. As Glenn As Can Be is a beautiful and sensitive children’s book by Sarah Ellis with illustrations by Nancy Vo.

As Glenn As Can Be portrays the young Glenn, a child with unique gifts and challenges, as he transitions from being a prodigy who doesn’t quite fit in with the crowd, to a self-actualized young artist whose relationship with music and technology enables him to be fully himself.

As Glenn As Can Be is published by Groundwood Books, and is now available for order on their website.

We asked author Sarah Ellis and illustrator Nancy Vo for a few words about the project.

From Sarah Ellis:

“For me, what lay behind this picture book about Glenn Gould was one part patriotism, one part empathy and about ten parts fascination. In the spirit of mild flag-waving, I wanted to celebrate a home-grown phenomenon. I also wanted to reach out to kids who might feel that they, too, don’t fit in. But mostly I just wanted to spend some time and imagination trying to figure out what made this remarkable artist tick.

I’m sure Gouldians are familiar with a charming interview with Cornelia Foss in which she describes Glenn studying a score while simultaneously watching an episode of ‘Get Smart’ on TV. When the half hour is over, he has the score memorized and he can reiterate the plot of the show in detail. This anecdote sums up what most intrigues me about Gould, that mingling of the ordinary and the amazing and how each part of his personality fed the other. We often tell children, especially when they are distressed or unsure, ‘Be yourself.’ Glenn Gould’s life is an example of the power and beauty that can be unleashed when it is possible to truly follow this advice.”

From Nancy Vo:

“When I was approached to illustrate a picture book about Glenn Gould, I immediately said yes! Just as soon after, I worried that they had asked the wrong person. After all, this is Glenn Gould, piano genius and legend. However, when I started to research and challenge myself to complement Sarah’s text with the right images and a layer of historical interpretation, I began to feel more at ease. I liked that this is not only a story about Glenn growing up but also about Canada coming of age as a nation – from the early days of national radio to the beginnings of space exploration.”

For long-time and new fans of Gould, this picture book offers a glimpse into his childhood and transition to adulthood. Gould was not only a gifted pianist, but also an iconoclast going against the grain of accepted norms. This, above all, is why his fans adore him.