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Rock n’ Roll Mole
I wrote this story after doing roughly six billion speaking engagements in one year. Here’s something no one tells a wannabe writer—you will earn most of your income through speaking engagements. I actually thought I’d earn a living through my writing alone—HA!
Now I am not shy, but I often get stage fright. What I’ve learned over the years is that stage fright is inevitable. I’m nervous before every speaking gig, but I just feel the fear and do it anyway, like poor Mole.
Lynn Munsinger has outdone herself! I’d like to appoint myself President of her fan club.
“Children will identify with Mole’s anxiety and will cheer for his rockin’ success.” —School Library Journal
“Readers will finish the book ready to put their hands in the air—and then give the entire cast a big hug.” —Publisher’s Weekly
Author Carolyn Crimi does an excellent job of making the characters come to life…This would be an excellent addition to any child’s library or classroom. It’s a book your child will want to read over and over again.” —San Francisco Book Review
“Despite all the anxiety floating around, Crimi keeps her touch light; doing the right thing becomes a vehicle for overcoming the sweats. She draws Mole as such a sympathetic soul that it’s easy to identify with his case of nerves and just as easy to feel uplift in his act.” —Kirkus
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Activities
Music:
Bring an electric guitar in for show and tell. Discuss how many strings it has compared to a bass guitar. How does this affect the sound of each?
Create a playlist with the following songs on it. Play it for your class and discuss how the music makes them feel. Are they happy songs? Sad songs? Silly songs? How does the musician use his or her instrument to make the listener feel that way?
- Don’t Stop — Fleetwood Mac
- Everyday People — Sly and the Family Stone
- Crocodile Rock — Elton John
- Big Girls Don’t Cry —Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
- Yellow Submarine — The Beatles
- Good Vibrations — Beach Boys
- I’m a Believer — The Monkees
- Splish Splash — Bobby Darin
- May This Be Love —Jimi Hendrix
- Wooly Bully — Sam the Sham
Put on your own Talent Show! This can be as simple as having students in your class perform songs for each other or for the whole school!
Language Arts:
The text in this book uses names like “Moo Two,” “Goose Springsteen,” and “Mick Badger.” Discuss the term “parody” with students. Compare the parody used in this book to some of my other books, like Boris and Bella (“Bella Legrossi” and “Boris Cleanitoff”).
Stage fright is a central theme in this book. Ask children if they’ve ever experienced stage fright. Brainstorm ways students can combat it. Practice, visualization and deep breathing exercises are among the many ways people have fought against stage fright in the past. Ask students create their own How To Books on ways they can conquer stage fright.
Related Books
- Punk Farm, by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
- Rock and Roll Dogs, by David Davis, illustrated by Chuck Galey
- Shake, Rattle and Roll: The Founders of Rock & Roll by Melinda Long, by Holly George-Warren, illustrated by Laura Levine