Diana Malivani
The Little Mouse
Musicians
An Illustrated Story in Verse
Translated from Russian into English by
Mark Herman and Ronnie Apter
Illustrated by the Author
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An orchestra of Little Mouse Musicians performs on the summer meadow (an Illustrated Story in Verse)
For a little girl named Michelle
The Author would like to express her deep gratitude to her husband for his support and assistance with this book
Table of Contents
The Little Mouse Musicians
The Author
Other books by the Author
The Little Mouse Musicians
In a meadow, a talented orchestra
Of Little Mouse Musicians
Is getting ready to perform
Some well-loved compositions.
Young Friedrich is the conductor.
He struts in with aplomb,
Shakes the paw of the first violinist,
And raises his baton.
Melody echoes through the woods,
The harmony is sublime.
Little mouse whiskers twitch in the wind,
And little mouse tails keep time.
Butterflies are fluttering by,
While song birds twitter in rhythm.
The sun shines down on everyone,
And the breeze is singing with them.
Young Mouse Klaus plays the grand piano,
A precocious virtuoso,
He pounds the keys with his flexible tail
Marcato non gracioso.
On a stump stands Young Fat Hans,
Plump about the middle,
But fully at home with his instrument,
The big bass fiddle.
Christopher loves the violin;
His bowing couldn’t be brisker.
He happily squeaks along with the tune
And rhythmically wiggles a whisker.
Saxophonist Marcus is known
For his intuitive playing.
He blows a “G” in ecstasy,
Closing his eyes and swaying.
On his oboe, Karl adeptly
Plays a short arpeggio
From “C” to “E” in lettered notes
(“Do” to “mi” in solfeggio).
Gaston joined his musical friends
To play his wonderful harp.
He plucks the strings with his upper paws
While he pedals the flats and sharps.
Blest with a keen and sensitive ear
Is Heinz, whose speciality
Is playing the trumpet precisely on pitch
With gusto and musicality.
Cheerful Heinrich fingers his flute
While tapping with his toe.
With a flower pinned to his white vest,
He is dressed comme il faut.
Jon plays the bass clarinet.
A dandy without peer,
He wears red boots and a bow on his tail
And a tulip behind his ear.
The littlest, Wilhelm, plays a pan pipe.
He rustles the grass with his tail
As he rapidly blows across the reeds,
First trilling, then playing a scale.
All day long the music swelled,
The mouse tenor sang
As the sound poured out to the river,
And the summer meadow rang.
What was played on that holiday
Would never be forgot: a
Marvelous musical piece,
The Little Mouse sonata.
About the Author
An author and illustrator of children's books, Diana Malivani lives in Paris, France, where she raises her young daughter Michelle, for whom this tale was originally written. Diana is a Doctor of Medicine (M.D., Ph.D.), specializing in sports medicine and nutrition, with extensive experience in the fitness industry. Diana is passionate about oil painting and preparing tasty and healthy dishes according to her own recipes.
Other books by the Author
English Edition
Snoutie and his Friends
The Great White Rabbit
Bazilio and the Little Mice
The Happy Little Pigs
The Little Honey Bears
The Gnome Magicians
The Little Lost Elephant
The Little Mouse Musicians
French Edition
Snoutie et ses Amis
Lapin Blanc Le Magnifique
Bazilio et les Souriceaux
Les Petits Cochons Heureux
Les Oursons de Miel
Les Nains Magiciens
Le Petit Éléphant Perdu
Les Souriceaux Musiciens
German Edition
Snoutie und seine Freunde
Der Große Weiße Hase
Bazilio und die Kleinen Mäuse
Die Fröhlichen Kleinen Schweinchen
Die Kleinen Honigbären
Die Gnom-Zauberer
Der Verlorene Kleine Elefant
Die Kleinen Mäusemusikanten