Music from the Sky

By Denise Gillard

Book Overview

A young girl and her grandfather set out one morning to find the perfect branch for Grampa to carve. Grampa says he's going to make a flute, but the girl is doubtful. She has been to a concert in the city, and knows what a flute looks like. How can her grandfather make one out of a tree branch? But Grampa knows what he is doing and, after finding the right branch, they return home, where he whittles away until the branch is no longer a branch, but a wonderful flute.

Set in rural Nova Scotia in one of Canada's oldest black communities, Music from the Sky captures the special relationship between a girl and her grandfather.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.5
Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 155498128X
• ISBN13: 9781554981281
• Release Date: November 2011
• Publisher: Groundwood Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 7.4" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 3 to 6 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 1

Customer Reviews

With diagrams for the reader to create his/her own flute

Music From The Sky is an engaging children's book about the special bond between a young girl and her grandfather, as they set out one morning to find the perfect branch to carve into a flute. The young girl is dubious at first, for she has been to a city concert and she knows what "real" flutes look like, until she sees the beautiful flute her grandfather makes with his own hands and his own skill. Peppered with wonderful story illustrations, this book goes the extra mile by adding detailed hand carving diagrams that allow the reader to create his or her own flute, just like in the story. Music From The Sky is an inspiring, thoughtful children's tale that doubles as instructions for an enjoyable home craft project. Recommended.