Parents' Guide to

Buffalo Music

By Dawn Friedman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Inspirational story of a woman determined to save buffalo.

Book Tracy Fern Historical Fiction 2008
Buffalo Music Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

Molly is a Tennessee woman pioneering out west with her husband, Charlie. She loves the buffalo -- the sights and sounds of them -- and is always listening for the buffalo music. But one day the hunters come and soon the herds are depleted. She thinks she'll never hear the buffalo again until a couple of orphans find their way to her.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

While the book is pretty long-winded for your average preschooler, the story is interesting enough that older kids and preschoolers with strong attention spans will want to listen until the end. Molly's strong convictions are inspiring, and her colloquial, descriptive narrative makes it an especially easy and pleasant read-aloud.

The grainy, detailed illustrations successfully capture the sense of the dusty, wide-open prairie, and the muted oranges and greens enhance the old-fashioned feel of the story.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the history behind the fictional book. With the help of the author's note in back, they can read about the woman who inspired the story by checking out other books at the library or sitting down to explore the recommended Web sites. The author even gives search terms to make it easier to find the information kids will need! They can also explore the history of the era and talk about dug-outs and pioneers, or learn more about buffalo or even how to rescue other orphaned animals.

Book Details

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