Jack Bechdolt (1884–1954)

A pulpy piece of classic post-apocalyptic goodness. Bit of a mash-up of John Carter, King Arthur and The Postman. Characterization is two-dimensional and you can see the end coming from miles away. A fun and entertaining read nonetheless.

This book is about a boy who likes to play the bass horn, but everyone around him thinks it is an obnoxious activity. Throughout the book people try to tell him to stop playing and go somewhere else to annoy others. In the end he finds his calling for playing his bass horn and is rewarded for his bravery. He helps direct a ship on a foggy day and is given a medal “FOR BRAVERY” (21). The town then sends him to music school to assist with his calling. This book is meant for a level two show more reader because it has more advanced word phrases and more words on each page. I would say that this book is perfect for children who want to try something new. They may have struggles with people accepting them for what they enjoy, but this book is something they can relate to and in the end have a purpose for their talent/interest. It can teach children to follow their dreams no matter who tries to put those dreams down. This book has LEA qualities because students can learn to express themselves in an activity that is different and to keep practicing, which will set a precedent for future subjects. The illustrations in this book are somewhat old fashioned, but sometimes that is good because students will recognize that and be more likely intrigued by the book. show less

Considering this story is over 60 years old, it has all the elements of a classic story. Poor Ollie can't find a place to play his tuba where it doesn't bother anyone. Ultimately he saves the day when he warns the ship of dangerous waters by playing his tuba on the ocean.
Cute story.