Joan Thomson Kretschmer

A Thanksgiving Tale is the triumphant story of unity in diversity. A small town's successful battle to overcome a factory owner's poisonous pollution, stonewalling, indifference, and legal skirmishes-fiction based on actual events. When grime, slime, and time adversely affected the inhabitants, a group of concerned citizens of different social and ethnic backgrounds banded together to protect human life and the environment. A Native American, Mayflower and slave descendants, European and Chinese immigrants, and others, all fought side by side. They used many forms of human ingenuity and cooperation, With tenacity and joy, they created a model for America. A modest proposal for an evolving, all-encompassing celebration of Thanksgiving and our many blessings.A Thanksgiving Tale is about an inclusive, reinvigorated Thanksgiving holiday, celebrating the "gifts" we take for granted: our "melting pot," clean water, fresh air, freedom of the press, the rule of law, and science.Dr. Joan Thomson Kretschmer, Artistic Director and Founder of the Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York, attended Smith College, graduated from Barnard College, and received her M.A. and Ph.D. in musicology from Columbia University, where she was a Clarence Barker Fellow. A pianist and teacher, she has been a music critic for The New York Post and has written articles about music for The New York Times and other publications. Joan is the author of Yona: Discoveries, Doorways and Musical Superpower; Yona Goes To The Magic Flute; and Michelangela and Debuts.Visit her websiteJoanKretschmer.com

Yona Goes To The Magic Flute is a fun-filled fantasy introduction to Mozart's great opera, The Magic Flute (Die Zauberfl te).An extraordinary young girl travels with her teachers and her friend, Ulysses, to the Metropolitan Opera in the Flights of Fancy, a flying piano. Their adventure/lesson is a unique introduction to Mozart's genius--for opera goers, their children, and grandchildren.The young heroine is Yona Short, who has magical musical powers. She can change human behavior just by THINKING ABOUT MUSIC.The story is a sequel to YONA: DISCOVERIES, DOORWAYS, AND MUSICAL SUPERPOWER which introduced Yona as she began her education and experiments with her powers."Joan Kretschmer's book Yona Goes to the Magic Flute is a wonderful introduction to the world of Classical Music for children of all ages."Robert Langevin, Principal Flute, New York PhilharmonicVisit her website at: JoanKretschmer.com

Enjoy the adventures of a tiny artist-spider, Michelangela, who discovers romance and herself. Searching for her place on earth, she inspires a prince who copies her intricate designs and becomes world famous. Then delight in the big-hearted heroine, Amore, who is ostracized by her family and townspeople because of her generosity and uniqueness. Follow her to one of the world's greatest cities, where she finds love and appreciation by those who see her as a "swan" rather than as an "ugly duckling." In a witty, alternative ending, a crafty lawyer markets her and enables her to become a world-renowned icon. Dr. Joan Thomson Kretschmer, Artistic Director and founder of the Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York, attended Smith College, graduated from Barnard College, and received her M.A. and Ph.D. in musicology from Columbia University, where she was a Clarence Barker Fellow. A pianist and teacher, she has been a music critic for The New York Post and has written articles about music for The New York Times and other publications. Joan is the author of Yona: Discoveries, Doorways and Musical Superpower.

YONA: Discoveries, Doorways, and Musical Superpower Dr. Joan Thomson Kretschmer We meet Yona at age ten, an unwanted, scorned child, discovering her unique talents and beginning to exercise her special gift, the power of music. Multi Tasker is her dramatic, magic-wielding piano teacher with his Flights of Fancy, a flying piano. Her new friend, Ulysses, is a ten-year old boy who finds an abandoned, dilapidated trunk and its colorful, ebullient occupant, Gene E. Tasker arranges for them to attend The John Brook Summer Music Festival, where they live and study in the historic mansion donated by Mrs. Goodnkind, a wealthy, benevolent role model. Daily lessons include trips and exciting adventures as well as Doorways to Understanding, a series of entryways to learning about creativity, life, nature, the arts, and values. The tip of the iceberg of their unique curriculum includes: Music, art, talent, generosity, fear, positive thinking, leadership, science, the beauty and complexity of Mother Nature, the Moon, alleviating suffering, good and evil. Dr. Joan Thomson Kretschmer, Artistic Director and founder of the Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York, attended Smith College, graduated from Barnard College, and received her M.A. and Ph.D. in musicology from Columbia University, where she was a Clarence Barker Fellow. A pianist and teacher, she has been a music critic for The New York Post and has written articles about music for The New York Times, Opera News, Stagebill, Keynote, The Greenwich Time, and other publications.Dr. Joan Thomson Kretschmer