After a passel of animal musicians pass through the forest, a wandering cricket finds an abandoned violin. “Oh, how practical! A house that can play music. I’m moving in.” During the day she makes pottery and noodles, but by evening she plays wonderful tunes that entrance the other insects and small animals. All is well until winter arrives. The insects who once loved the cricket’s music now see her home as a potential source of firewood. Next thing you know, there’s a blazing fire, and the cricket must live in an old milk carton. But what is to be done when the music is gone and everyone regrets what has happened? Translated from German, this well-told cautionary tale offers cogent commentary on the dangers of favoring immediate necessity over the longevity of pleasure in the arts. Alas, the rather abrupt ending (which sees the cricket using the stovepipe in her new home as a trumpet) doesn’t quite stick the landing. Readers likely won’t mind, though, as the true allure is Haifisch’s delightful and detailed ink drawings. Vibrant yellow, orange, brown, green, and blue let readers experience the cold, the regrets, and the eventual relief and joy, all in high definition.