Mole Music

by David McPhail

A spiritual story about the far-reaching effects of private actions.

Mole has always led a simple life, but lately he feels something is missing. When he first hears someone playing a violin, Mole realizes that he longs to make beautiful music, too.

Through practice and patience, Mole learns to play. And even though he plays alone, in the privacy of his underground home, his music has an effect on others that is more magical than Mole will ever know.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Storytime, Kids

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

David was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts and attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. While there, he began illustrating. He is now an award-winning author and illustrator of nearly 200 books beloved by children, parents and librarians across the United States. McPhail has garnered many prestigious awards, including a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year for Mole Music in 2001. McPhail’s other books include First Flight, which the New York Times praised as “hilarious and helpful”; and Lost!, which was chosen as an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists.

McPhail has four children, three stepchildren, and is a proud grandfather. He is married to Jan Waldron, with whom he has written and illustrated several books. He lives in Rye, New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My five-year-old son picked out this book from the library last week.

Sometimes I feel like Mole. I feel like I work in a tunnel and alone and I wonder if any of the work I do matters. It does matter -- I may never know how -- but it does matter.

What a wonderful lesson for very young children to learn early in life. Listen to your soul and make your own "music". I doubt if many of the children hearing or reading this understand fully that important message, but it is likely they will not forget the enchanting artwork.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my list of All Time Favorite Children's Books. It has beautiful and symbolic illustrations with the message that one person can really change the world...and not even know about it.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mole felt a bit empty, so he sent away for a violin and taught himself to play. We can see what he can't, the world above him, so we can see the effects of his improving music. As he gets to be very good he daydreams about changing the world with his music, unaware that he already has.

This one has simple words and simple pictures to go with it, but a message that is suited for just about any age group. Actually, what it reminds me of is Jordi's Star or maybe The Tin Forest in its message, that you can make a difference without even knowing about it.

[Cosette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note to self: read this to kids before signing them up for violin.

[Ollieiam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best novel I have ever read in my entire life. It is really too bad that I was introduced to this work of art in my toddler years because everything I have tried to read after pales in comparison. I want my bedroom to be painted with the art from this book. I don’t want a tattoo but if someone told me I needed to get tattooed then I would tattoo something from mole music. I wouldn’t say this book has changed my perspective of the mole as a species I think it is still a miserable little creature. Hopefully I will recover from this.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie’s Picks: MOLE MUSIC by David McPhail, Henry Holt, 1999, 32p., ISBN: 978-0-8050-2819-5

“Mole he is burrowing his way to the sunlight”
-- The Moody Blues, “Watching and Waiting” (1969)

“Mole lived all alone underground. He spent his days digging tunnels.
At night he ate his supper in front of the TV and then went to bed.
Mole liked his life, but lately he had begun to feel there was something missing.
One night on the television a man played the violin. He made the most beautiful music Mole had ever heard.
‘I want to make beautiful music, too’ Mole said to himself.
So the next day he sent away for a violin of his own.”

There are two parallel stories taking place in MOLE MUSIC. One thread is below ground and features Mole. The second, out of Mole’s sight, is above ground where an acorn-turned-oak tree depicts the passage of time through its steady growth and Mole’s long-term devotion to the violin.

After some initial screeching, Mole begins to master his violin. Unbeknownst to Mole, his music drifts upward and can be heard above ground. Mole is underground, imagining what it would be like to play his music for people. Meanwhile, people are gathered ‘round the oak tree, listening. In the end, his music is so beautiful that it even stops a war in its tracks.

But Mole doesn’t know this as he stows his instrument away for the evening.

McPhail depicts the anthropomorphized Mole character so perfectly--round and snouty mole-ness is balanced against the human-like spectacles, purple bathrobe, and comfy armchair in front of the TV.

MOLE MUSIC shows how the goodwill in good deeds can reverberate in consequential and unexpected ways.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com

[Juli19 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a mole who lived alone. One day he got tired of doing the same thing. One day he was watching television and he saw someone playing music so he decided to play the violin. At the beginning only horrible sounds came out of his violin but with practice he got better and better until one day beautiful tunes came our of his violin. He imagined that a large audience could listen to his songs and maybe his music could change the world but what he did not know is that he had audience and they were enjoying his songs. I think the book is ok. It is not one of my favorites but it is ok to use with children and teach them that practice and perseverance is what will make them successful in life.

[Katie Bristow Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story! Gorgeous illustrations to accompany the delightful story. I highly recommend this book!

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mole Music" is one of the most inspiring picture books I have read in a while. The concept is simple. Mole, who lives underground, feels like something is missing from his life, and starts practicing the violin, becoming better and better at it. All day at work, he begins to hum the music he’ll practice at night. Mole doesn't know that his music is affecting the world above him. Mole’s music is making the world a better place and is inspiring others and making their lives more enjoyable. I love this book because it inspires little ones to do something they are passionate about, even if they think it doesn't matter, because it can make the world a better place, like how Mole did through his beautiful music.

[Yuyin Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be sure to listen to the audiobook version read by Jim Weiss! His warm, gentle voice plus the music that goes with the reading are just unforgettable! I listened to this audiobook numerous time with my older three kids when they were little. But #4 was not born yet at that time. Now she herself is playing violin. One day she is playing the music that was used in the audiobook. When she played a wrong note in the end, her unmusical dad protested. She was puzzled. How come daddy suddenly knows she played a wrong note? I told her that because we listened to that audiobook so many times! So I decided to check out the book and CD again, even though she is already 11, too old for picture book. We enjoy listening together. Many memories flood back as we listened..... love this book!

[Children's Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art style is great, and it matches the mood of the story, the colours are a bit fuzzy, muted and somehow earth-dirty.

The story is very inspiring.

It lost a star for the strange mixture of timelines - the mole has electricity in his mole-hole, yet he uses a feather and ink to write to whoever to order his violin. The people above his tunnel are a curious mixture of knights on horses, kings, peasants, swords and spears. It looks like Middle Ages. All these people clash with electricity, tv and indoor plumbing that goes on under the ground.

Also, moles are very nearsighted so reading notes from sheet music that lies on the floor (ground) is a bit far-fetched.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

A message that says music can change the world and turn war into friendship.

Ages: 4 - 8

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Sari Koehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much!! It is such a wonderful story that tells us if we want to do something we have to go for it. At first we might really stink at what we try, but if we set our mind to it, keep practicing, then someday what we are doing will be so beautiful and it may just change the world.

This book is good for any age, baby through adult. Thank you David McPhail, every time I read this beautiful book I want to try a little harder.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bonus points in our family for featuring a mole (especially one that digs)!

[cue the Snow White dwarf music:
"We dig dig dig dig dig dig dig in our mine the whole day through.
To dig dig dig dig dig dig dig is what we really like to do."]

I like that he was inspired by something that he heard and that he decided he wanted to do. Then he worked on it for a long period of time just for himself.

I also like that others were influenced by him, without him ever knowing.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely composed story with two story lines......Mole wants to make music and he works very hard to play the violin. He wonders what it would be like if others could hear him play but what he doesn't know is that his music is being heard above ground by many people...and it has made their lives better. Themes: how we influence others, joy of music

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agreeing with the Goodreads introduction, yes! This IS a profoundly spiritual book.

Whether we give music to others or kindness or patience...

Whether anybody every thanks us directly...

Every good thing that we do can be a blessing to others.

How lovely to become aware of this spiritual principle through the eloquent drawings and sensitively narrated tale of Mr. Mole!

[Keturah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mole Music by David McPhail
5 Stars

Short children's book about a mile who hears a violin and wants to play beautiful music, too.

This one might be a good children's goal read. I loved the story and the mole's motivation and dedication. Very cute, sweet, and fun. The audiobook was about 7 minutes long.

[Miss Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mole sees someone play a violin on TV and so he decides that he wants to play too. He enthusiastically teaches himself to play but feels bad that his music doesn't bless the life of anyone. His creativity and caring seem to go unnoticed, or does it?

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mole sees someone play a violin on TV and so he decides that he wants to play too. He enthusiastically teaches himself to play but feels bad that his music doesn't bless the life of anyone. His creativity and caring seem to go unnoticed, or does it?

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mole learns to play the violin and wonders what his music could do for the world as he plays underground. He doesn't see what is happening above ground. Preschool and up. Heavy picture importance but very beautiful.

[Deja Bertucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my new favorites. Mole teaches himself to play violin, getting better and better as he imagines the power of the music he plays. He doesn't know that up above his burrow, all that he imagines is coming true as people hear his music.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the illustrations and the message that music can change us and others. It can alter conflict and make the world more beautiful even when we think we are the only ones to benefit when we are the musician.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story for the littles to learn several good lessons: you can change lives without even knowing you have done it. And, it takes time and practice to get better at your skill, whatever it may be.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book to introduce classes to the value of music.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story. I really enjoyed it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but sweet book about how one good deed, no matter how small, can change the world

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful celebration of the power of music.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story that goes well with music when read out loud.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perseverance and the inestimable power of beauty. Love McPhail's works.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feeling that something is missing in his simple life of digging tunnels, Mole acquires a violin and learns to make beautiful, joyful music. This, in turn, makes an impact on the world around him.