Bookmarked: Festival du Voyageur mascot recommends "Andrea's Fiddle"

"I love this family-oriented book because laughing, dancing and playing music are a big part of who I am and where I come from."

—Léo LaTuque, Festival du Voyageur mascot

Hello! My Name is Léo LaTuque and I'm the official Festival du Voyageur mascot. I'm a giant red toque, perfect for Manitoban winters and emblematic of the Voyageurs.  I love to meet new people and share my "joie de vivre" wherever I go. I hope everyone will come out and visit me in Voyageur Park during the Festival du Voyageur which runs from February 17th to the 26th, 2012.

Even though I am a mascot of few words I do loooove to read! My favorite book is Andrea's Fiddle by Blaine Klippenstein.  It is the story of a young girl who receives a special gift from her Grandfather - a fiddle!  The fiddle carries with it an ancient story that has been passed down from generations to generations. Through music, dancing and laughter we learn about Andrea's Grandfather and her great great great Grandfather whose friend was an old spruce.

I love this family-oriented book because laughing, dancing and playing music are a big part of who I am and where I come from. It tells the tale of a fiddle... which I too play! The music plays an important role in the story; it brings people together and gives them a feeling of joy.

It also teaches that if you keep practicing at something you can only get better at it. Moreso, the story is about family heritage, community, friends and how everyone is linked together.  It deals with the community's relationship with the environment - how they used the nature that surrounded them to put clothes on their backs and food in their bellies. I love stories with children in them as I am young at heart!

Andrea's Fiddle is written, illustrated, narrated and published entirely in Manitoba.  It comes with a CD that includes Desmond Lagace playing all the fiddle tunes from the book, as well as teaching tunes so I can play along.

When I'm feeling a bit too tired to read, I like to listen to the narrated version by Susan Dupuis that is also included with the CD. If you're looking for a great story, fine fiddling music and a good chuckle, you will love Andrea's Fiddle!