Rosie's Fiddle [Hardcover]

Phyllis Root (Author), Kevin O'Malley (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 18, 1997 | Age Level: 5 and up

A happy hullabaloo!

Folks said Rosie could fiddle the flowers out of their buds. They said she could fiddle the stones out of the ground. Folks said Rosie O'Grady could out-fiddle the devil himself, and that was a dangerous thing to say! Rosie's Fiddle swings with foot-stomping country cadences and zesty illustrations that bounce with the raucous energy of an old time hoedown.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2. "Prickly as the roses that grew by her door," Rosie lives alone with her chickens and corn, and an old, cracked fiddle she plays on summer evenings on her porch. Her music is so beautiful that the townsfolk hide in the shadows to hear her play, saying that she "could out-fiddle the devil himself." When he comes to her door, Rosie accepts his challenge, hoping to win his shiny bright fiddle. The duel is described in lyrical language, complemented by clever, colorful illustrations. However, there is no real twist on this familiar tale other than a female heroine. This simple contest with the devil is not as intriguing as in Harve Zemach's Duffy and the Devil (Farrar, 1973) or Harold Berson's How the Devil Gets His Due (Crown, 1972; o.p.), but it is certainly authentic Americana. A careful eye will enjoy the "Buy Bonds" signs on Rosie's barn and the expressive faces on the crows and the chickens. This book will amuse children and satisfy teachers looking for something with the flavor of Midwestern cornfields, but few will find it especially memorable.?Jackie Hechtkopf, Talent House School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5^-8. Rosie O'Grady is the best fiddler in town; folks say she can outfiddle the devil. That's a dangerous thing to say. On the day the devil shows up at Rosie's, he proposes a contest: "You out-fiddle me, you can have one thing of mine . . . . I out-fiddle you, I can have one thing of yours." Even though Rosie knows that thing is her soul, she has a hankering for the devil's fiddle and agrees to the bet. In true tall-tale fashion, astounding things happen. Chickens fly across town, and thousands of crows invade the area. One round for Rosie, one for the devil. Then the devil gets the whole town dancing until they drop. It seems as if the devil has won--until Rosie makes the devil dance until he drops. Oversize watercolors adeptly depict the action, frenzied in some cases. There is a definite edge to both the telling and the art that is perfectly appropriate, though it may be a tad scary for the youngest preschoolers. Slightly older children will revel in the whirlwind pace and the satisfying resolution. Read it aloud with relish. Ilene Cooper

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (March 18, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688128521
• ISBN-13: 978-0688128524
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,950,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon had Rosie's Fiddle, June 30, 2011

By 

Barb - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rosie's Fiddle (Hardcover)

I love this book. It is lively and fun. It recounts the tale of the Devil and Daniel Webster and dueling banjos rolled into one. It is fun to read, fun to share with kids and some adults.