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"Gus and Grandpa and the Piano Lesson," by Claudia Mills,
pictures by Catherine Stock, 2004, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 48
pages, easy reader Have you ever tried to learn to play a musical
instrument? As adults we know that the old saying of "practice makes
perfect" is all too true, but until "the music is in the fingers"
the process can be daunting! I know because I have been both the
student and the instructor.
Practicing for a half hour when you want to be outdoors, counting
out loud when you think it makes you look silly, the lessons when
the teacher thinks you can do better, and of course "the dreaded
recital" are all parts of learning to play a musical instrument.
Sometimes, especially when you are a beginner, the whole experience
is really not much fun.
Anyone who has learned to play a musical instrument can certainly
empathize with Gus in this story for beginning readers. In "Gus and
Grandpa and the Piano Lesson," Grandpa certainly understands what
Gus is going through. A music lover himself, he turns a potentially
embarrassing episode into one of triumph and joy for his grandson.
This short chapter book may be just the ticket in smoothing the
road of a young person experiencing musical effort for the first
time. It may also give the adults in the child's life a few clues on
how to make the experience more fun for the whole family.
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this article]
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"Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail," written by
Coleen Salley, illustrated by Janet Stevens, unpaged picture book,
2004, Harcourt, ages 3-5
In Coleen Salley's newest Epossumondas story, we meet up with her
possum character once again. This chubby, untidy, rather
ridiculous-looking animal is too cute to be ugly!
Epposumondas begins to ponder how all the animals have different
tails -- some thick, some bushy and fluffy. But his tail is "just
pink and naked and funny-looking." He asks Mama why he does not have
hair on his tail. So the story begins.
Her answer involves a tale (no pun intended) about his
great-great-grandpa, Papapossum, who had a powder-puff tail at one
time. However, even though his great-great-grandpa was smart and a
good storyteller, he sometimes got himself in trouble. It is a story
of a growling stomach, a tattling tricky Hare, a silly possum and a
nonsharing Bear.
Told in the traditional Uncle Remus tradition, Salley teams up
once again with Caldecott Honor illustrator Janet Stevens. The
result is a hilarious look at possum "history" and a unique
storytelling technique to explain the happenings of nature. This
dynamic duo has created a story sure to delight the funny bones of
young children and adults alike.
Come share a story or two with someone special. Check out what's
happening at the library!
[Louella Moreland, youth
services librarian,
Lincoln Public
Library District]
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