The Boy Who Said Wow

Inspired by the beautiful true story of a nonverbal boy moved to speech at his first Mozart concert, this picture book is a testament to the power of art and the boundless joy it can bring.

When Grandfather comes to take his grandson to a concert, Ronan is quiet as they leave the house, quiet in the car, and quiet at the concert hall. But when the performance is over and the beautiful music fades out at last, Ronan opens his mouth…and lets out a great big WOW!

Not any old WOW, but Ronan’s very first WOW! That one word fills up the hearts of Ronan’s family, the musicians, the audience, and—when the recording goes viral—the world.

Todd Boss is an award-winning producer, writer, and innovator whose lyrics have been performed at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and around the world. He has published four poetry collections, and his work has appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, The London Times, American Poetry Review, Best American Poetry, and on National Public Radio. The Boy Who Said Wow is his debut picture book. Visit him at ToddBossOriginals.com.

Rashin Kheiriyeh has a master’s degree in graphic design and a doctorate in illustration and has illustrated more than eighty books in half a dozen languages, including Welcome Home by Aimee Reid and Story Boat by Kyo Maclear, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year. She was a 2017 Maurice Sendak fellow and is a lecturer at the University of Maryland. She was born in Khorramshahr, Iran, and now lives in Washington, DC. Visit her at RashinArt.com.

ISBN: 9781534499713
Format: Hardback
Pages: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Published: April 02, 2024

"Visually, the book soars... Boss’s use of sound effects (“Zimmity Zimmity Zum”) make this a pleasing read-aloud.""A heartwarming testament to music’s emotional power.""The story is beautifully told with just enough well-chosen words.... An unusual picture book that tells a memorable story."