Mole Music [Hardcover]

David McPhail (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A Junior Library Guild Selection.

A Children's Book-of-the-Month Club Selection.

Mole has always led a simple life, but he begins to think that something is missing. When he hears a violin playing for the first time, he longs to make beautiful music. At first, Mole can only make horrible screeching noises on the new violin he gets, but he practices and practices. Finally, his patience and dedication are rewarded. Mole creates a magical gift that unbeknownst to him has the power to erase hatred from the hearts of all who hear his music.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this tender-hearted picture book, McPhail (Tinker and Tom and the Star Baby) goes undergroundAliterallyAto explore the restorative powers of music. Mole feels something is missing from his life, which consists of digging tunnels all day and kicking back in front of the TV in his subterranean home each evening. One night Mole watches a man playing the violin on television ("He made the most beautiful music Mole had ever heard") and resolves to obtain his own violin and learn to play it. His initial attempts with instrument in hand could hardly be called music, but with great determination and practice, Mole soon coaxes gorgeous sounds from the strings. As Mole wonders what effect his music might have on an audience, McPhail cleverly depicts the melodious notes floating up through the ground to appreciative listeners and transforming the world into a more peaceful place. The illustrations chart the aspiring musician's progress through the seasons, as the sapling above his rooftop flourishes on a steady diet of his euphonious tunes. The brief, simply phrased text brims with big ideas that may inspire many a young musician or artist. McPhail's delicate watercolor-and-ink paintings work seamlessly in tandem with the words to deliver a truly resonant message: that music can change the world. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Mole finds that digging all day and spending his evenings alone leave him unfulfilled. Upon hearing a musician on TV, he decides to create his own beautiful music. After much patience and practice, he learns to play the violin more magnificently than the man who first inspired him. The passage of years is conveyed visually by the growth of the tree above Mole's home from little acorn to mighty oak. Mole's music is, at first, jarring and almost kills the tree, but as he becomes more skilled, the tree flourishes. Mole imagines sharing his glorious gift, soothing people's discontentment, and perhaps even ending disharmony in the world. Unbeknownst to him, he has achieved his dream. His lovely music has imbued the tree with an aura of tranquillity; animals and people are drawn to it by its serenity. Most of the pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations reveal Mole's underground activities in the lower half of the pictures and life aboveground in the upper half. McPhail's paintings aptly depict the calming atmosphere engendered by Mole's music. The story suggests that by doing something that brings pleasure to oneself, it is also possible to affect the lives of others in a meaningful way. A quiet story of a life well lived.
Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (March 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805028196
• ISBN-13: 978-0805028195
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #599,562 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

DAVID McPHAIL is the creator of dozens of wonderful books, including Big Brown Bear's Up and Down Day; Sisters; Mole Music, a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year; and several recent Green Light Readers for Harcourt. He lives in New Hampshire.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank You David McPhail, January 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mole Music (Hardcover)

I would like to take this opportunity to thank David McPhail's parents for having a child who grew to write this book. MOLE MUSIC will surely be a classic, loved by future generations of creative dreamers. Seldom does such a simple story resonate so deeply. It takes a great talent to wield so few words to mean so much.

When Mole sees a violinist on television he is so touched by the music he wants to make beautiful music of his very own, so he orders a violin for himself. When it arrives he can only cajole it to make horrid, screeching sounds. But Mole, the industrious, kind-hearted and hard worker that he is continues to practice (and practic and practice). After many years his music is even more lovely than the violinist he saw so long ago. Dear, dear Mole wishes he could change the world with his music--and Mr. McPhail shows the change that occured because of Mole's efforts strictly through the art. I won't give it away, but it is a great change indeed, and all the more touching because Mole played his music not for fame, but for the love of the music itself and a desire to share beauty with the world.

The words and art blend seamlessly together, one never overshadowing the other. This book is as a bright star in the world of Children's literature. I can only imagine that Mr. McPhail himself is like Mole--for who else could write a book like this? It's a visual song from the heart that could possibly change the world by inspiring young children to create some lovliness of their own. Thank you David McPhail--and thanks to your parents too.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple story, deep message, September 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mole Music (Hardcover)

On the surface, Mole Music is about a mole who decides to teach himself to play the violin, and the effects that has on the "aboveground" world. It's a charming and funny story with cute illustrations.

But "Mole Music" carries a deeper message, a message that should bring hope to anyone who wonders if they are doing any good in the world: it suggests that doing something good and right, something creative, that you love, can change the world for the better in ways you are totally unaware of. Mole may have stopped an entire war through his music, as well as soothing the hearts of countless people.

Even though I am a childless adult, I decided to buy a copy of "Mole Music" after reading it in a store. I am going to keep it to look at for those times when I feel like all my efforts are in vain, when nothing I do makes any improvement in people or the world. I'll try to remember Mole and smile.

(By the way, I'm a college teacher).

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top 10 - Good values, good story, April 29, 2003

By 

NK "NK" (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mole Music (Hardcover)

In the past 2 months, we've bought about 100 children's books, increasing our selection for toddlers to over 250 and out of all of those, together with those I've read from other sources, I would rate this as one of the best, especially for our 28-month-old son who has a special love for music and dance (yes, I think all-around, it's even better than Gustav Mole). The values in this book (including hard work, practice, humility and peace) are outstanding without being heavy-handed or even obvious, making it a great book for all young children. The story and illustrations are sweet and charming.