27 April 2020 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

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