Sylvie and the Songman by Tim Binding

Binding,Tim. Sylvie and the Songman, illustrated by Angela Barrett. 340 pgs. David Fickling Books, 2008. $15.99. Sexual Content-G; Language-G; Violence-PG. Sylvie’s mom was swept away with the tide years ago and she lives with her dad who plays in the orchestra and invents instruments. Sylvie helps her father with his newest instrument and they nearly blow up the shed. The next night her father doesn’t come home and a stranger called the stops by to see him. Sylvie goes to school the next day and pretends everything is okay, but her dog Mr. Jackson’s bark is gone and the birds aren’t singing. Her friend George who is an expert kite maker/flier comes home with her to sleep over. Someone tries to break in. Could her father’s invention and the animal’s voices have something in common? Who is the Songman and why is he after Sylvie? A well-paced adventure with original twists and eccentric British characters. The story is contemporary, but the illustrations are old fashioned. EL – ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.