Little Rat Makes Music

I have been scouting out the library for books with a good vocabulary, big font, lots of pictures, and short chapters. This book fits that bill. There were a lot of things I loved about this book. My daughter, who is 6 1/2, enjoyed this book a lot. She read it on her own and then I read it aloud to her and to my 4 1/2 year old. I was caught by surprise when Little Rat said loudly that practicing was "Stupid!" and then stomped off. Her mom did come to talk to her and explained that there wouldn't be any more tantrums and talked her through it. I liked how it was resolved. I was caught by surprise once more when Little Rat farted. My children are homeschooled and though they have great vocabularies, that word didn't happen to be in their vocabularies. So, it was an interesting thing to explain. My daughter started playing piano a year ago and it has been really hard to get her to practice. I think she really understood this book and it held a great lesson for her. A year after starting lessons, it is finally easier for her. I think she liked and understood Little Rat.

Learning to make music is often a difficult and frustrating slog, but the reward can be the incomparable joy that comes from performance. Little Rat loves beautiful violin music, but her own efforts are ugly and simplistic. Her teacher isn't warm and friendly, and Little Rat hates to practice, often throwing tantrums when her instrument won't behave. Still, she perseveres and her teacher finds her an older, more patient student who helps Little Rat settle down and focus. At the end of the book Little Rat learns an ambitious piece and experiences the joy of MAKING MUSIC at a recital. This book made me tear up as it brought back my own struggles and joys with the piano. My children (aged 7 and 5) love it, and they love my connection to it. I believe it will give them a good reference point as they start piano lessons in a few weeks.

Monika Bang-Campbell's LITTLE RAT MAKES MUSIC will reach ages 6-9 with its easy reader about Little Rat, who longs to make music like the violinists she sees at concerts. Unfortunately, she hates to practice: it's hard and her violin squawks. How can Little Rat make beautiful music NOW? Any kid taking music lessons will relate to her dilemma.