Mrs. Tuck’s Little Tune by Cass Hollander (1996) is a brilliant story concept. I’m surprised I haven’t seen this story idea stolen and elaborated by another author. This 16-page paperback has only one or two sentences on each page. The sentences are repetitive and not least bit poetic. (It's a Leveled Reader.) The strength of the story is its idea. Mrs. Tuck plays a tune on her flute one morning, and this tune is carried from one listener to the next all through the town. Mr. Duke hears the tune first and hums it as he waits at a bus stop. A woman waiting beside him, hears the tune, and repeats it on the bus, thereby passing it along to Mr. Ruiz, who passes it along to someone else. I especially like the ending— Mrs. Tuck has no idea that her music filled the neighborhood. Illustrations by Kate Flanagan are bright and colorful. They match the feeling of happiness as this little tune floats through the air.
