Ossiri and the Bala Mengro - Hardcover

Richard O'Neill; Katharine Quarmby; Hannah Tolson

3.84

115 ratings by Goodreads

9781846439254: Ossiri and the Bala Mengro

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1846439256 ISBN 13: 9781846439254

Publisher: Child's Play International, 2017

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

A Traveller girl creates her own musical instrument from a willow branch and lots of recycled objects. She plays it enthusiastically, but it sounds terrible! Ignoring warnings not to awaken the ogre in the hills, Ossiri goes there to practise playing her instrument. Will she wake the ogre, and will it appreciate her playing? Told by a Romani storyteller and a picture book author, this original tale offers a fascinating insight into Travelling lifestyles and cultures.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

From School Library Journal:

K-Gr 3—Ossiri and her family are Romani, nomadic people who make a living by recycling settled people's castoffs into useful things. Disappointed that her parents can't afford to buy her an instrument, Ossiri builds her own and sets about practicing. Like many budding performers, she finds her initial efforts are not appreciated, so she disregards warnings about the savage Bala Mengro ("hairy person") and takes off into the Lancashire hills to play. Fortunately the Bala Mengro loves Ossiri's music and rewards her with silver and gold. A greedy stranger who steals her instrument gets his comeuppance at the claws of the intimidating beastie, and Ossiri realizes that the purity of her passion protected her. This tale positively highlights the role of the Travelers in the ecosystem of the land and the modern economy. Tolson's richly colored illustrations, with touches of gold and red popping against a background of earthy greens and browns, are evocative of folk art tradition and greatly enhance the narrative. The lifestyle portrayed is particularly relevant in the context of maker culture, and the book would also serve as a useful springboard for discussions about cultural diversity and stereotyping. VERDICT An original tale with the timeless allure of folklore, recommended for all picture book collections.—Laura Simeon, Open Window School Library, Bellevue, WA

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.