"Verdi: The Story of the Little Boy who Loved the Hand Organ" by Thomas Tapper is a simple story intended to teach children about the life and work of the famous composer, Giuseppe Verdi. It follows young Giuseppe's love for music, starting from when he first heard a hand organ in his small Italian village. With the encouragement of friends, he learns to play music himself, impressing people with his talent and eventually becoming the organist for his church. As he gets older, the story follows his journey to becoming a composer of well-known operas and his eventual legacy of supporting other musicians.

Verdi : The Story of the Little Boy who Loved the Hand Organ
By Thomas Tapper
From a boy captivated by a simple hand organ to a celebrated composer, this is the tale of a musician whose earliest friendships helped him find his path to greatness.
Summary
About the AuthorThomas Tapper was a musician, composer, lecturer, writer, teacher, and editor, who was born in Canton, Massachusetts, and studied music at the American College of Musicians. He wrote many books on music, mostly for children and young adults. His most famous being Lives of Great Composers picture book series. He also wrote the First Year Series for musical instruction, which included First Year Musical Theory, First Year Counterpoint, First Year Harmony, Second Year harmony, First Year Analysis, and First Year Melody Writing. He was the editor of "The Musician," and promoted rural music and community music. Tapper also promoted rote learning in the rote-note controversy of the late 19th Century music education. His students included Isabel Stewart North and Carrie Burpee Shaw.
Thomas Tapper was a musician, composer, lecturer, writer, teacher, and editor, who was born in Canton, Massachusetts, and studied music at the American College of Musicians. He wrote many books on music, mostly for children and young adults. His most famous being Lives of Great Composers picture book series. He also wrote the First Year Series for musical instruction, which included First Year Musical Theory, First Year Counterpoint, First Year Harmony, Second Year harmony, First Year Analysis, and First Year Melody Writing. He was the editor of "The Musician," and promoted rural music and community music. Tapper also promoted rote learning in the rote-note controversy of the late 19th Century music education. His students included Isabel Stewart North and Carrie Burpee Shaw.