The Fiddler of the Northern Lights [Hardcover]

Natalie Kinsey-Warnock (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Henry Pepin, a boy who lives along the wild St. Maurice River, has heard all of his grandfather's stories about the fiddler who makes the Northern Lights dance, and he sets out in search of the fiddler.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

During the north woods winter, Henry is spellbound by his grandfather's fabulous stories-particularly by one of a fiddler whose music summons the dancing colors of the aurora borealis. Hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary figure, Henry and Grandpa Pepin skate upriver on ice mirroring the sky. Bowman's watercolors portray the emergence of the shimmering northern lights, which turn the black river into a "ribbon of sparkling, dancing light." When the two return home, Henry is tired and disappointed, until a late-night knock at the door introduces a stranger toting a not-so-mysterious black case. As the fiddler plays, the northern lights begin to dance, and the awed neighbors soon follow suit. Kinsey-Warnock, previously paired with Bowman for The Canada Geese Quilt, takes her metaphors from the woods: the last strains of music are "sad and lonesome as a wolf howl," and the stars hang so low that "it seems you could hop from one to the other, like rocks in a stream." The dialogue is contrastingly plain, and the characters almost flat: the landscape gets more elaboration than the people. But for the most part, the tale delivers the anticipated magic, and Bowman's understated, realistic watercolors transform the somber woodlands with curtains of light. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Eight-year-old Henry lives with his family on the shores of the St. Maurice River in eastern Quebec. There the wolves roam and the winter nights are icebound and filled with mystery. Henry listens avidly to his grandfather's stories and legends of the area, and the two set out on a midnight journey, skating on the frozen river. They are searching for the elusive fiddler, who Grandpa Pepin says creates the music that wakes the Northern Lights and makes them dance. Their trek ends in disappointment, but when they return to the warmth and comfort of home, a stranger with a long white beard and a fiddle under his arm arrives at the door. As a sweet, clear song pours from the instrument, the northern lights dance in the sky, and all the neighbors gather to celebrate this miracle of nature. The mixture of fantasy and reality in this story does not quite work, and could be a bit confusing for young readers. Exactly who the fiddler is remains a mystery. However, the relationship between Henry and his grandfather is strong and believable. The mood created by the poetic text and beautiful watercolor illustrations is reminiscent of Jane Yolen's Owl Moon (Philomel, 1987). Since there are few stories available about the aurora borealis, this one would make an acceptable additional purchase.
Martha Rosen, Edgewood School, Scarsdale, NY
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525652159
• ISBN-13: 978-0525652151
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Polar Regions

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sit-Together-and-Cuddle Book!, November 25, 1998

By 

Keli Vargo - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fiddler of the Northern Lights (Hardcover)

After seeing this book read on a children's show, I knew that my son and I would adore feeling the magic of this family story. I was right! The illustrations evoke a sense of quiet not unlike the snow itself, and the end leaves us eager to listen to some of our own family stories.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent store of folklore, a boy and his grandad, January 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fiddler of the Northern Lights (Hardcover)

This is a book that explores the nature of folk stores told by a grandad, that no one, not even the grandad are sure is true. It is works with the notion that many of our folklores well are they just folk stores?? Not to be outdone are the illustrations of the book. The northernlights in this book sometimes seemed to dance on the pages. The illustrations of the book are some of the best.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real treasure, June 5, 2005

By 

Longtalker (Richmond, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Fiddler of the Northern Lights (Hardcover)

This is a story to be read out loud to children and adults, with a charming and delightful story, as well as lovely illustrations. We enjoy sharing this story with all our friends (young and old) who enjoy fanciful tales about our beautiful wild lands.