The Music Inside Us: Yo-Yo Ma and His Gifts to the World, Howe

At a young age, Yo-Yo Ma discovered a remarkable gift for the cello, playing Bach from memory by age four. His technique was far beyond his years, but even as he grew and became a world-class musician — studying at Juilliard, performing at Carnegie Hall at a young age, even playing on television before the president of the United States — he wanted to use his gift for something deeper, something bigger. As he asked question after question, trying to understand his place in the world, he discovered something that every culture has in common: music.

Ma decided that he would spend his life not only performing for others, but also learning from other cultures’ musical traditions and finding ways to unite people. Even as he dedicated himself to humanitarian work around the world, Ma also dedicated himself to teaching a new generation of young cellists to play with their whole hearts, bodies and souls, like he does — how to find the music inside themselves.

From James Howe, bestselling author of Bunnicula, and Jack Wong, award-winning author and illustrator of When You Can Swim, comes the story of legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who is special not only because of his unmatched talent but also his curious mind and compassionate heart. Powerfully told and stunningly illustrated, this biography will inspire readers to discover the gifts inside us all.

Author: James Howe
Illustrator: Jack Wong
Format: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (2025)
ISBN: 9781419755217