Play Me A Story : Nine Tales About Musical Instruments

A collection of tales originating in countries around the world and featuring a musical instrument native to each country

Grade 3-6?A unique collection of folktales from around the world. Some of the selections are familiar, such as "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" and "The Singer and the Dolphin"; others are less well known, such as "Didgeridoo Magic," an Australian Aboriginal tale, and "The Bewitched Snake Charmer," a story from India. The instruments featured are also varied?a balalaika from Russia, a horse-head fiddle from Mongolia, and a drum from South Africa. The brightly colored illustrations range from precise Celtic motif drawings for the Irish "Fairy Music" to the dreamlike, grotesque monster in "Didgeridoo Magic." Detailed borders that evoke the country of origin accompany each story. Source notes explain where the author first heard the stories. This book will appeal to children and adults searching for storytelling possibilities, and educators will find it useful for getting kids interested in musical instruments. All nine stories could possibly be found elsewhere but this compilation brings together interestingly told tales by an accomplished storyteller.?Mollie Bynum, formerly at Chester Valley Elementary School, Anchorage, AK
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Music links nine stories, which include both familiar (``The Pied Piper'') and lesser-known tales (the Aboriginal ``Didgeridoo Magic'') from around the world. Adler (The Dial Book of Animal Tales, 1996, etc.) adapts the tales to her own voice, which makes them easy for modern audiences to read and understand, but which also makes this less appropriate for those seeking the spirit of the originals. For example, in ``The Singer and the Dolphin,'' the hero Arion ``sang like an angel,'' a description out of keeping with the pre-Christian-era setting of a Greek myth. However, Adler does cite her references for these stories, which use music both as a backdrop and as a focal point. ``Fairy Music'' is an Irish tale about a strange little band whose music makes all listeners dance. ``The Horse-Head Fiddle'' focuses on the musical instrument itself, explaining why Mongolian fiddles are decorated with a horse. Cencetti's gentle illustrations frame these stories in pastels and ornaments reflective of the tale's culture. Overall, the volume is pleasing, especially where issues of authenticity are not of prime concern. (Folklore. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Gr. 3^-6. Nine tales, each one from a different country, show the power of music to transform the lives of its audience and its performers. The tales are nicely varied, including the familiar story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, which begins the collection, as well as a pourquoi tale from Mongolia, a cautionary tale from the Hopi, and a Greek myth. Adler's skills as a storyteller are evident in the tellings, which will easily be understood by middle-school readers and are suitable for reading aloud. The softly colored illustrations, contributed by Greta Cencetti, are inviting and quietly reflect the tone of each story. The source notes are limited to the author's experiences with each tale; nonetheless, this is a solid collection with many curricular applications. Karen Hutt