The Fabulous Song

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Little Frederic (as in Chopin) Pipkin cannot seem to find his niche in a
huge, musically gifted family. All around him are relatives who can play
musical instruments. On special occasions, they gather together to
perform—except for young Frederic, who would rather stay in his room
with his toys. But Frederic’s parents refuse to accept his
peculiarities. As soon as they think he is old enough to learn piano,
Frederic is forced to take lessons, until his teacher quits. His parents
switch him to the clarinet, and then the trumpet, and so on. Only after
young Frederic has carved a swath of failure through every section of
the orchestra do the senior Pipkins admit that maybe Frederic is not a
musician after all. Only after he is left to be himself does Frederic
discover that he actually does have a unique musical talent that has
been evident since he was a baby.

Writer Don Gillmor and illustrator Marie-Louise Gay have each
established fine reputations in children’s picture books. In this
work, their combined talents have produced exceptional results. Each
page is a barrage of tart one-liners and delightful visual gags.
Frederic is a feisty little individual, often outrageous and always
rebelling at his family’s well-meaning attempts to coerce conformity
out of him. Highly recommended.