Oscar lives next door : a story inspired by Oscar Peterson's childhood

Summary: "This is a fictional story inspired by true events. Millie, the protagonist is invented, but her next-door neighbor, Oscar Peterson is not. His childhood neighbourhood--at the time called St-Henri, now known as Little Burgundy--is also a real place where the majority of Montreal's black population lived at the time, many of the men working as porters on the railway. In this story, Millie and Oscar are typical children, making mischief at the market, playing pranks at church--but not so typical is Oscar's musical talent. Millie calls Oscar a musician for the way he can coax music from his trumpet. But a (true) bout with tuberculosis lands Oscar in the hospital, and when he comes back a year later, his lungs are no longer strong enough to blow the horn. With the encouragement of Millie, Oscar switches his attention to the piano--and the rest is history. Marie Lafrance's detail-filled digital illustrations bring Montreal--and particularly Little Burgundy--of the 1930s to life! Includes Author's Note in the end about author's connection to Oscar's old neighbourhood, and short bio of Oscar Peterson."-- Provided by publisher