When Uncle Took the Fiddle

by Libba Moore Gray, Lloyd Bloom

Uncle's inspired playing of the fiddle causes sleepy family members to pick up other instruments and join him, while the neighbors come to join the celebration

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Music

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1999

Reviews

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Appalachia-flavored tale has helped me to understand what has sustained so many generations of people there, hard-working people living in poverty generation after generation.

Early on I fall in love with the pictures by Lloyd Bloom, with their distinctively imagined faces and always (I feel) included in each picture is a glimpse of the person within that physical face.

Soon the music, hope and joy wake up within the book's characters. Each one reminds me a candle that has been touched by a flame for sharing hope and enjoyment of life. Soon everybody is dancing.

As for the ending? No spoiler from me. I'll just say here and now, that ending is PERFECT.

[Emma Biays · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Uncle Took the Fiddle shows the importance and power of music, which I think is so important for kids. It also shows a close community and family that comes together to dance and make music. In addition, it gives some cultural diversity to children that aren't familiar with the south, from the subject matter and vocabulary. It also used onomatopoeias strategically, but the illustrations were dull.

[Barbara Radisavljevic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book illustrates the power of music to change moods and energy levels. When the book begins, everyone is the family is sleepy and settling down in various resting positions as if to nap. Then Uncle takes his fiddle and as he plays, everyone wakes up and by the end they were dancing, clapping, and having a wonderful time.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think I would introduce this to my class unless we had a lesson over music. I'm not a big fan of this book, but it was okay. I wish there was more of a story behind this picture book because the pictures are beautiful!

[Kaycee Greenwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

The power music win amplified in the book. Once Uncle take a hold of the fiddle the mood the the book and the character changed. The fiddle brings the hold town to gather. I was not particularly a fan of the illustrations, although the book was written well.

[Kayla Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't too crazy about this book.