Review Detail

Roohi loves listening to her grandfather play the rabab and wishes she could play just like him. Roohi has lessons every day, but she believes her playing sounds nothing like her grandfather’s rhythm and melodies. The Eid celebrations are coming up, and Roohi is supposed to play at her school concert. Unfortunately, Neeka Baba is ill, and she has to perform without his help. Will Roohi be able to draw on his strength and perform at the concert to share the melodies with those there?

What I Liked: The illustrations throughout this book do a great job of immersing you into the culture and sharing various aspects of Pakistani music with you. The relationship that Roohi has with Neeka Baba is well developed, and you feel her feelings the moment he disappears from the pages in the book. The language used throughout the book is easy for younger children to follow, and the story is also easy to follow. There are moments in which you can pause if you are reading aloud to allow for questions or comments from the children.

The closing of this book provides more information about the Rabab, and where to listen to Rabab music, as well as information about Roohi’s family, Eid, and the clothes that Roohi is wearing. It also provides a glossary for Pashto terms that are included throughout this book.

What Left me Wanting More: When Neeka Baba falls ill, it is unclear if he has passed away or is just in the hospital. This moment gets a bit more confusing when Roohi sees him in the audience, and you are unsure if he is there physically or if this is more of her being in tune with her ancestors. While this is a confusing moment, it is also a good moment in which children can ask questions, or you can ask them what they believe is happening in the story.

Final Verdict: Music of the Mountains is a beautiful and fun book that teaches young children about the Rabab and the ways in which music brings us together. Children ages 6 and up will enjoy listening to this story and learning about music from another part of the world. This book is a great way to share Pashtun culture with others and learn a little bit about Pakistani music.