It was a fun, exciting goal ... put on hold for a while. MOUSIE HIWAY: The Adventures of BANJO MOUSE in Appalachia is the first in a series of children's books that involve music, a good story, a fun character and a valid lesson.
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Alas, life, schedules and energy are not my friend at the moment so the project is on hold. MOUSIE HIWAY, the first of the series is about a banjo playing mouse that travels Appalachia, meeting other musicians and forming the Mousie HiWay Band. I hope to pick up the project again soon. This feels funny because I never stop anything. Ever.
The story and accompanying CD (I would read the story and have the music going on behind me until the end when the whole bluegrass band plays the song "Mousie HiWay") would introduce the sound of the banjo, fiddle, mandolin, dobro and bass to young ears in a fun way.
I'm not aware of another bluegrass-related children's book like this.
Anyway, I like the story. And the rhymes. And it's based somewhat on fact. It's true: I did live in Mousie Kentucky and Blue Moon Mountain separated the little hamlet from Hindman, KY, the county seat and yes, I traveled the hollers with my banjo.
So, here is it, read it with a tempo, find the phrasing. I'm including an early sketch of the Banjo Mouse character. You have my permission to read it to your kids if you want, but not to reprint this in anyway. Actually, it would be great if you created your own pictures to go with the story. Make your own children's book. Heck, why not? How hard can it be?
Send me pics if you do: michael@woodsongs.com
If all goes well, I hope to have a book and hold my twins in my lap someday, reading this to them.
MOUSIE HIWAY
The Adventures of Banjo Mouse in the Appalachian Mountains
words and characters by Michael Johnathon
c2015 Rachel Aubrey Music, INC/BMI
Banjo Mouse
Fiddle Fox
Doggy Dobro
Mando Mouse
Little Bitty Beaver
This is the adventures of Banjo Mouse
He didn’t have a bed and he didn’t have a house
But he had a lot friends where ever he’d go
'cause he knew a bunch of songs on the ol’ banjo
Then one night in the Appalachian hills
He heard a lonesome sound and everything got still
In the silvery moon just sittin’ on a rock
He found a new friend named Fiddle Fox
Well, he and Fiddle Fox played all night long
They played a lot of tunes, sang a lot of songs
But when the sun came up they had no place to go
till they met a new friend named Doggy Dobro
When Doggy played the dobro he could bend those notes
He would bend them up high and bend them down low
with the fiddle and the banjo they would laugh and shout
It was a dream come true for Banjo Mouse
But now, the whole band knew there was something still a-missin’
You could hear it so plain, you could hear it if you listen
So they mumbled and they grumbled till they figured it out
When up from a holler came Mando Mouse
Mando Mouse was Banjo’s cousin
He could play his mandolin, even when he’s runnin’
He could play it so fast he had everyone a-shoutin’
And it echoed through the hollers of Blue Moon Mountain
Now, Banjo Mouse knew they wouldn’t get far
They had a real fine band but they needed one more.
So he wondered and he pondered and he wished upon a star
And from a cabin on a hill came Kitty Guitar
She was a six-string Kitty she could pick and sing
Banjo Mouse could made the banjo ring
No one played the fiddle like Fiddle Fox could
and Dobro Doggie made the song sound good
But Banjo Mouse stopped and said “hey wait a minute...”
we have a real fine band but there’s something not in it
We all want to play a real big show
but the show won’t go unless we play it down low
And then though the bushes came a rumblin’ sound
it shook all the trees and it ratted the ground
and down from the mountain with a smile on his face
came a little bitty beaver with a great big bass
Well, from Blue Moon Mountain to the hollers all around
the people all gathered for that bluegrass sound
and they sang and they cheered again and again
Everybody loves the Mousie HiWay Band!
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