Editor’s Note: The following article is a synopsis written by staff members and volunteers of the Cary Memorial Library in Houlton highlighting one of the suggested reading books, as determined by the staff.
Although our two books this week feature girls and are based on two different cultures, the lessons taught are really for everyone.
“Elena’s Serenade” is written by Campbell Geeslin and illustrated by Ana Juan with dark, almost fantasy themed pictures.
Elena lives in Mexico and her Dad is a glassblower – you know the kind blown from very hot liquid into beautiful and often colorful glass objects. The glassblowing process takes much practice to learn and is an often perilous occupation. Elena finds a pipe and asks if her Dad will teach her to blow.
When Elena learns she is too small, and only males can blow glass, she unhappily decides to disguise herself as a boy and leave her home for the big city where the best glassblowers work. When she finally blows on her pipe, she discovers it makes music, nice music. She meets a burro who loves the song and gives her a ride. They come across a roadrunner with a bad limp and Elena plays a marching tune to help him along. Then along comes coyote chased by bats, an owl and a lizard. Well, they are protesting the coyote’s musical talent.
Elena teaches coyote to start on a lower sounding note and the other creatures applaud! Elena finally reaches the city, meets glassblowers, and begins making beautiful glass stars which delight the customers. THEN the miracle happens: Elena returns home and surprises her father by making glass butterflies with her music. And, oh! The ending is so fantastic. A fun-to-read-book with titles of the Spanish songs in case you are interested.
Timbales, congas and bongos on an island intrigue a young girl who loves music. But on her island it is taboo for girls to play drums – so she dreams of her music even while listening to the men and boys perform. Newberry Honor Winner Margarita Engle and illustrator Rafael Lopez capture many, many musically based sounds on this big island of music and describe the sounds well as “DRUM Dream Girl” hears them.
Finally she dares to begin playing her music on the drums and astounds her older sisters who make music with other instruments. Despite their Father’s initial protest, he finds a teacher for Drum Dream Girl and off she goes to the cafes to make her music. Based on a true story from Cuba, this Drum Dream Girl played for a popular U.S. president whose wife was influential in helping to develop women’s talent in nontraditional pastimes.
Happy Summer Reading and look for the registration dates for Cary Library’s Summer Program.
The Cary Memorial Library is open Mondays-Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 532-1302.
