Mole Music (Reading Rainbow Books)

Written by David McPhail

Narrated by Jim Weiss

When Mole hears the beautiful music a violin makes, he decides to get one for himself. He practices every day and learns to make beautiful music, too.

Alone in his hole, Mole imagines the effect his music might have on the world. As he plays, his music has an effect even more wonderful than he could imagine.

A Live Oak Media audio production.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Live Oak Media
• Release date: Jan 1, 2001
• ISBN: 9781430115410

David McPhail

David McPhail published his first children's book, The Bear's Toothache, in 1972. Since then, he has written and/or illustrated more than fifty books including No! and The Abandoned Lighthouse, published by Roaring Brook Press. He lives in New Hampshire.

Reviews for Mole Music (Reading Rainbow Books)

[Jessica Kouka · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We love Jim Weiss recordings. This one is charming with the accompanying violin and other sound effects.

[debrasw · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Summary: one day mole heard a man playing the violin and decided he wanted to make something so beautiful like that. So he got a violin and played. At first it sounded awful, but then as he kept practicing, he began to get much better. Then his dreams became bigger. He dreamed of playing for large audiences, noble people and presidents, then he dreamed of taking away anger and war in people. As he dreamed them, they happened on the surface.Genre: this is a fantasy because moles do not play violins and they do not effect people's lives by stopping wars and creating harmony.Theme: This story has an overarching theme that if you dream it you can do it. Nothing is to big for you to accomplish.Media: ink/watercolor

[dangerlibearian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book to show the power of music and how every action has a counteraction no matter whether you see it or not. A mole learns to play the violin, his playing nourishes a big tree, which nourishes a community. His music stops wars.

[andreawallin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reaction: This book is very inspiring and makes one realize that music is good for all of us. I also like the message the illustrator and author provide-that if you are stuck in a rut, try something new, it could change your life!

[conuly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mole felt a bit empty, so he sent away for a violin and taught himself to play. We can see what he can't, the world above him, so we can see the effects of his improving music. As he gets to be very good he daydreams about changing the world with his music, unaware that he already has.This one has simple words and simple pictures to go with it, but a message that is suited for just about any age group. Actually, what it reminds me of is Jordi's Star or maybe The Tin Forest in its message, that you can make a difference without even knowing about it.

[suzecate · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mole Music is the touching story of how a mole who lives in a cozy underground burrow learns to play the violin after seeing and hearing a TV performance. The sapling above the burrow wilts with Mole's first efforts, but as Mole improves over the months and years, the sapling grows into a strong tree that attracts life.Mole wonders what it would be like to play for people:"He even imagined that his music could reach into people's hearts and melt away their anger and sadness."All the time, Mole is oblivious to the fact that humans above can hear the music surrounding the tree and that it does reach into their hearts.The sensitive and old-fashioned (in the best sense of the word) watercolor-and-ink illustrations hit just the right note in this story of the beauty and healing power of music. (ages 2-6)

[paroof · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorites. The pictures are just beautiful and the story is lovely. Mole hears a violin played on tv and sends away for one of his own. After much practice, mole plays even more beautifully than the man on tv and he imagines what it would be like if someone could hear his music - little does he know the affect his music actually has on the world. Lovely.