Mole Music written and illustrated by David McPhail

The picture book, Mole Music is a story about a mole who learns to play beautiful music on his violin while above ground marvelous effects are shown from the music emanating from the roots of the oak tree above Mole's house. The story embodies the theme showing how music enriches, comforts, and enlivens our lives with its beauty and harmony. Mole realized that his life was satisfying but humdrum. He was inspired one night when he was relaxing in front of the TV listening to a man playing a violin. He decided he wanted to play beautiful music, too. Mole ordered a violin in the mail, and upon receiving it he persevered in practicing steadily. After a month he began to play a simple song, and as years went by he played more beautiful music. While he was imagining and wishing he could play for large audiences of people and wishing he could change the world and “melt hearts” with his music extraordinary events were occurring above ground: The oak tree above its roots sticking through Mole’s ceiling was growing and thriving. The tree was providing a peaceful perch for many birds, opposing armies were making peace with each other, and presidents and common people were finding peaceful solitude or shelter under and around the oak tree above Mole’s home where he played his beautiful music. The inviting aura around the tree above ground seemed to attract people and birds, and at the end the soldiers were contentedly sleeping in and around the tree while Mole played one last song below before going to sleep and pleasantly dreaming. The book is an inspiration to aspiring young musicians, and it invites them to work with the same tenacity and verve as Mole as he seeks to develop his musical skill for the pleasure of others.