My Mountain Song

by Shutta Crum, Ted Rand (Illustrator)

Overview

In this tender, lyrical story set in the mountains of Kentucky, Brenda Gail is spending the summer with her great-grandparents. Gran Pap tells her that "everybody born in the mountains got a song inside 'em," made of memories. That means Brenda Gail has one, too, "just waitin' to come out." A squabble with her troublesome cousin Melvin, in which Big Ma's favorite hen is injured, and their reconciliation help Brenda Gail start to choose the moments that will be in her song.

Rich, poignant art from esteemed illustrator Ted Rand is paired with an atmospheric text written by a true storyteller. Kids everywhere will want to make up their own "mountain songs."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547563060
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	05/24/2004
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	30 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Shutta Crum, formerly a librarian, currently writes full time. Among other picture books, she is the author Thunder-Boomer (Clarion), which received four starred reviews, was nominated for a Cybil Award, and was an SLJ Best Book, a Smithsonian Magazine Notable Book, and an ALA Notable Book. Shutta was born in Paintsville, Kentucky, and lives with her husband in Michigan. Her website is www.shutta.com.

The late TED RAND was the esteemed illustrator of many picture books, including Eve Bunting's Secret Place and The Memory String.

Editorial Reviews

Family, feelings and life on the farm make pleasant music together as the themes in Crum's (Spitting Image) debut picture book. When middle child Brenda Gail gets to spend the summer, all by herself, on her great-grandparents' mountain homestead, her days brim with the hum of the country-roosters crowing, dogs barking, a screen door that "swishes open and snaps closed," and Gran Pap's special mountain song. Gran Pap explains that everyone 'round those parts-even Brenda Gail-has their own song, full of good memories and "things you like about the mountains." But Brenda Gail's thoughts of composing her own tune come to a screeching halt when her pesky cousin Melvin arrives on the scene. Bickering and tussling ensue, resulting in the accidental injury of one of the family's prized hens. This wake-up call inspires healing, reflection and good fodder for a song. Crum hits some sweet notes while portraying believable childhood emotions and warm intergenerational relationships. Rand's (The Memory String) bucolic watercolor scenery includes elegantly plumed fowl, a comfy wooden porch and, fittingly, some sweeping vistas of purple mountain majesties. Ages 5-8. (May) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 3-"In the mountains down south, morning is musical." Young Brenda Gail revels in sounds, from the rooster's cry to the screen door's swish, but nothing pleases her more than discovering her Gran Pap humming his special mountain song. He informs her that everyone born in the mountains has a song in them, and Brenda Gail can create her own tune with her favorite memories. As she goes through the day, she gathers, much as she does eggs, ideas to add to her own melody. She includes her great-grandparents along with her favorite animals and activities, but draws the line at her annoying cousin Melvin-there is no way that he will be part of her composition. A near tragedy softens her resolve, and she learns that the best songs (and families) encompass a variety of emotions. Crum's lyrical words work well with Rand's fluid watercolors. With their soft impressionistic look, the full-bleed illustrations, executed in faded browns and grays with touches of pastel hues, have a timeless quality that elicits a feeling of nostalgia. Together, author and illustrator have created a delight for the senses that harmonizes the coziness of a close-knit family with the gentle ambience of old-fashioned farm life.-Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Pleasant but bland watercolors don't provide enough nuance for this double-themed plot. Brenda Gail is spending the summer on her grandparents' mountain farm. Beloved Gran Pap sings a tune one morning, prompting a conversation about how everyone who's born in the mountains has their own "mountain song" made up of their favorite memories like a quilt. Brenda Gail wants to work on figuring out her own mountain song, but frustration at cousin Melvin makes her throw rocks at him-accidentally hitting and injuring Big Ma's favorite egg-laying hen. The hen recovers, but Brenda Gail's guilt and punishment overshadow the mountain song idea and turn the story moralistic. Text length and complexity, especially about the abstract and intriguing mountain song, are out of proportion with the pictures, which don't merit more than a quick look. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews

"Written in folksy language, the tender story is beautifully illustrated with soft watercolor paintings" BOOKLIST Booklist, ALA

"Crum hits some sweet notes while portraying believeable childhood emotions and warm intergenerational relationships." PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Publishers Weekly

"A delight...that harmonizes the coziness of a close-knit family with the gentle ambiance of old-fashioned farm life." SLJ School Library Journal —

From the Publisher