When Uncle Took the Fiddle - Hardcover

Gray (My Mama Had a Dancing Heart) hits all the right notes with this toe-tapping tale. When family members settle down to relax at the end of a long day, they all feel the same way: "Tired." But as soon as Uncle reaches for his fiddle the mood changes. As Uncle plays ("Zee zee/ Saw saw/ Ziggle, ziggle, zang"), Grandma, Grandpa, Mama and others grab their own instruments (guitar, mouth harp, washboard, etc.) and join in the mountain-style jam session. Before long, "folks down in the hollow" make their way to the house for a dance-filled jamboree. Gray's text is equal parts raucous and cozy, conveying rhythm and sound through fun-to-say onomatopoeic words. The family's attitude adjustment in the face of homespun tunes lightly testifies to the positive effects of music. Bloom (Like Jake and Me) offers readers a down-home look at the sunny side of life in Appalachia. His pale colored-pencil compositions, often tinged with soft browns and pinks, are set on airy expanses of white, emphasizing the characters and their movements. The slightly scraggly countryside and the people, with their bright, elongated faces, their overalls and worn, lace-up boots, all suggest a setting ruled by a strong sense of camaraderie. Ages 4-7. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A drowsy Appalachian family begins to nod off until Uncle picks up his fiddle and scratches out a tune. One by one, the family members awake and join in, adding such instruments as a mouth harp and spoons. Drawn by the music, neighbors arrive with more instruments, join the merriment, and begin to dance. Gradually things wind down, friends depart, and Uncle strokes the strings one last time. Elongated human figures bend and twist to the pace of the vigorous narrative. The dominant weathered grays, faded blues, and greens fit the humble country setting. Inside the small frame house, characters appear against the white of the page, but exterior pictures reveal a fully drawn background. When the music is in full swing, the onomatopoetic text makes this a fine but challenging read-aloud. Although very different in tone, palette, and setting, this rural cousin to Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin (1995) will add bounce and zest to storytimes and music curricula. Linda Perkins