Abstract

John Lithgow, a versatile and award-winning actor of the stage, screen, and television, is also a best-selling author of children’s books. Music and the Arts are pervasive top-ics in Lithgow’s books. His first book, The Remarkable Farkle McBride (Lithgow & Payne, 2000) tells the story of a boy who discovers that his preferred musical instru-ment is “playing ” the orchestra as its conductor. For Lithgow, the alliance of animals and song makes for fan-tastic confederates. I’m a Manatee (Lithgow & Hoyt,