Passing the Music Down by Sarah Sullivan & Illus by Barry Root

This is such a sweet book. 

(And I always forget how hard it is to take pictures of books outside... One of these days, I am totally going to learn how to take phenomenal pictures. You can say you knew me when... )

This book is a true story about a young violin player, Jake, meeting one of the greats of the Appalachian fiddlers, Melvin Wine.

Melvin sees talent in this young boy, so agrees to tutor him. 

Jake's family moves to live near Melvin so Jake can learn more from him. 

Melvin thinks it is important to do more than just play music though--he teaches Jake all about Appalachia through daily life and living. 

I love this so much! This old man giving his wisdom to Jake, passing it on to live after him.

They do find time to fiddle together though. Always time for fiddling.

On the porch...

By the fire..

...and at festivals. 

They play together everywhere.

Years pass, following the same pattern.

Eventually, Melvin teaches Jake about the ending of life. 

And finally, Jake is a grown man and playing at festivals on his own, as a world class fiddler.

And Jake never forgets the man or the place that helped him be everything he is today. 

I so love this! The passion for music, Jake's parent's commitment to his talent, the eventual success. 

I think one of the things I like the most is Melvin insisting that other things were important too. He didn't just tutor Jake on the fiddle and send him home, but taught him how to live life as well. 

Now by Antoinette Portis

My sister brought this book from her library because she knew it would delight me. And it does! 

Have I talked to you about my sister's in-home library yet? It makes me the teensiest bit jealous. 

I am not sure what is going on with my camera's lighting, but this is such a gorgeous library. The piano, all that light, the dark bookcases, the window seat...! Window seats featured largely in my childhood daydreams of ideal dwellings. As did in-home libraries and grand pianos. 

This book is so incredibly sweet! 

(Also, can you believe that I was able to find red leaves already?! I did have to hunt a little, but they were pretty readily available. Where has this summer gone?!) 

It is all about the immediacy of childhood. 

How children tend to love what is right in front of them and not worry about what isn't near to them. True mindfulness. 

And the illustrations fit the words so well! Simple and sweet. 

I have to say, I never truly lost this childish characteristic. What I have right now is very often my favorite. I sort of have a terrible memory, so it makes it easier just to love whatever I have at the moment. 

The contentment in the here and now. 

Happy sigh! 

King Baby by Kate Beaton

If there is a new baby somewhere in your life, you need this book. 

Kate Beaton is the author of The Princess and the Pony, which was a hoot. I had high expectations for this one. 

And it didn't disappoint. 

Look at those swelled out chests of the parents. 

King Baby blesses his people. 

But he is also a little tyrant. 

Those chests are quite so swollen. 

Tiny despot.

King Baby gets bigger! Learns to communicate!

Sort of.....

                                                                                                                                                                                        Since his slaves are so inept, King Baby has to do his own thing.     

Much to the delight of those slaves

King Baby isn't such a baby anymore. 

The kindhearted king's concern for his subjects.

And there she is! 

September from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

Tom in the Middle by Berthe Amoss

This is another vintage little book. And vintage little books always get my attention. 

This one is all about siblings.

Tom is in the middle. 

His little brother John annoys him by following him everywhere and wanting to do whatever he does. 

Brothers!

He copies and stands in the way of the swing. 

And he flushes important pieces of games and sets down the toilet. 

John has spunk! 

So Tom left John in the dust and began to play with Mark. His older brother. Who is super cool. 

Except he calls Tom "stupid."

Tom decides that brothers are not worth the bother.

And has some alone time. 

However, alone time feels ever-so-much-more-so alone after dark. 

And brothers are okay to eat bread and butter with. 

Really, who else would you rather sleep in a blanket fort with than your brothers? 

Brothers have redeeming features. 

Berthe Amos (the authors) real life Mark, Tom and John.