The Sad Story of Veronica Who Played the Violin: Being an Explanation of Why the Streets Are Not Full of Happy Dancing People

For optimists who wonder ``why the streets are not full of happy dancing people,'' McKee's darkly comic tale offers some explanation. When Veronica begins violin lessons, the neighbors and even her teachers weep at the girl's sour notes. After she masters her instrument, however, she continues to bring her audience to tears with her sweet songs. Her adventurous soul leads her to abandon a concert career and journey to the ``deepest darkest jungle,'' where her music has an opposite effect and sets the animals to dancing--until one fierce lion ruins the party. McKee's ( Who's a Clever Baby? ; the King Rollo series) busy illustrations depict an array of unusual perspectives and minute details that urge close inspection (alligator and cheetah couples moving cheek-to-cheek are not to be missed). The text's sudden, startling finish teeters on the absurd, but finally provokes more thoughtful consideration of Veronica's circumstances than laughs. Ages 5-9. (Oct.)