ROSIE'S FIDDLE
by Phyllis Root & illustrated by Kevin O'Malley
The devil does love a good contest. So when he hears through the grapevine that tough-as-nails Rosie O'Grady can out-fiddle him, he challenges her to a musical duel. During the first of three rounds the devil fiddles the feathers off the farm chickens, and the laundry off the line. But Rosie's fiddling restores order to the barnyard. The devil's second attempt drums up a storm of crows that devastates Rosie's corn crop. Rosie gets the rocks dancing, but she can't rouse the crows. The devil, smugly assuming he's going to win round three, entrances all the villagers to dance to his music against their wills. But this time Rosie's music wins the match, by sending the Evilmeister himself waltzing faster and faster through the fields until he dances himself into a puff of smoke. Root's reworking of this American folktale bursts with vitality and spunk. Its characters, portrayed by O'Malley's malleable brush, are large and energetic, with hints of WPA-mural expressiveness. A toe-tapping tall tale to read aloud. (Picture book/folklore. 5-8)