Molly and the Sword

A courageous young girl learns -- and teaches-- valuable lessons of the road to triumph s a violinist. Although the book should appeal to children as young as 6, its story is likely resonate with older children -- 7, 8 and 9, up to 12. Even the dramatic 14 full-page illustrations and clean layout will draw in those older readers who might normally rebel against "children's" books. The story is simply told but filled with subtleties that children will appreciate on different levels as they grow older. One example is the way her mother's beautiful singing at the start of the book is mirrored by the beautiful sound of Molly's violin near the end. Parents (and music teachers) will appreciate one point in particular: there's no magic wand, rather it's "practice" that enables Molly to perfect her skill. At the same time, the book does highlight the magic of music.