Chuck's Band

March 1, 2008
PreS-KA simple rhyming tale of latent musical talent let loose. Each barnyard animalexcept a green catfinds its instrument and joins the hoedown. A large red hound strums a guitar as a small white Terrier blows on a harmonica. A duck pecks on a washboard, and a donkey taps on a bucket. Drawn in bright crayon, the characters are complemented by the green grass, a blue acrylic sky, and the outline of the yellow farmhouse. One page reads, "Tuck plays the guitar/strum, strum, /strum! Nip plays harmonicahum, /hum, hum!" To the right of the spread a spotted cow and pink pig seem to be repressing a jig ("The big cow Lou and the/little sow Sue wanted to/make some/music, too"). Emerging readers will find the large print accessible as well as the mirroring relationship between text and illustration. Preschoolers will delight in this read-aloud that has much potential for participationspoons, knee slapping, and clapping. One caution: the foot-stompin' rhythm may leave some adults with a fiddle sound reeling through their heads."Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti Montessori Magnet School, Springfield, MA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2008
An amiable farmer with a yen for music, Chuck drives his truck into town to buy a banjo for himself and a mandolin for his goat, Flo. When the other animals hear them playing, they want to join in. So they all pile into the pickup for another trip to the music store, adding some homemade instruments, and round out the band with new sounds. In the comical ending, Fat Cat Pat refuses all offers of instruments and holds out for something that suits her better. The short, rhyming phrases of the text roll along in a pleasing way, but the cheerful illustrations really bring this picture book to life. Bold lines, bright colors, and crayon textures come together to create scenes that are vivid and easy for young children to read. From the writer/illustrator of Chucks Truck (2006), this pleasing picture book would make a good intro to musical activities for young children.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)