From School Library Journal PreSchool-K—This picture book begins in a small way, in a kitchen, as a mouse taps a cup with a spoon. Turn the page and readers see the mouse hand the spoon to a cat. From there, more and more animals join in and soon a marching band forms and moves outside. The rhythmic text depicts the action in a minimalist style: "A box, a bowl,/A spoon, a stick./Tap! Tap! Clickety-click!" Dynamic watercolors use fluid lines and soft, clear colors to show a large group of animals celebrating sound and motion. This book seems a natural fit for toddler programs and may inspire some families at home as well. Gene Baer's Thump, Thump, Rat-a-Tat-Tat (HarperCollins, 1991) is similar, but Lois Ehlert's illustrations for that book have a very different visual style. Some may like her bright abstract shapes, and others may prefer Rycroft's more traditional artwork. Larger collections may want both.—Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Read more From Booklist The action begins in the kitchen, where a little white mouse hits a cup with a spoon: “Ting!” Inspired, the cat bangs a spoon on a can’s lid: “Tong!” Barnyard animals grab other kitchen equipment and continue the fun outdoors, where they join a troup of approaching animals wearing snazzy band uniforms. Together they play, marching on their hind legs in a joyful, musical parade. The rhythmic, rhyming text and the exuberant drawings of strutting animals create a sense of music that builds in a great crescendo. The short phrases of text and the comical figures of the prancing animals will hold young children until the exultant “Tah-dah!” on the last page. In Rycroft’s spirited pencil-and-watercolor illustrations, the animals cavort with energy, personality, and joy. First published in Australia, this picture book lends itself well to story hour—just be ready to break out the rhythm instruments and kazoos. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Carolyn Phelan Read more
M**S
Five Stars
A favorite book in our house. Simple, imaginative, and sing-songy.
R**N
Exciting, fun book
I LOVE this book. I bought it for my son's daycare (1 year old class). The kids love it. It is so great to see kids get excited to read books, this is one of those.
A**R
Five Stars
another great read
M**2
Five Stars
Such a great book, my kids just love it!
W**M
Review from [...]
Dancing pigs, drumming cats and marching chicks. What's not to love? A whole slew of animals get into the action by making their own instruments from ordinary household objects and forming an impromptu parade. A bitty little mouse swings his spoon against the side of a teacup with a resounding "Ting!" This small sound ignites a fire under the other animals. One by one, they create instruments and start banging out a cacophony of sounds. The pig smacks two pot lids together for cymbals, the goat presses a bowl and box into service as drums and the mouse abandons his teacup for a bell on a stick. Tap! Tap! Clickety-click!The makeshift band marches out the door and across the lawn. Mama chicken leads the line of fuzzy boogie woogie chicks. A host of birds hold up a colorful banner over the band, and even minuscule bugs in the grass are feeling the groove. Everyone is having a fine time! Isn't music a wonderful way to gather a group together? As they march along, the makeshift band is surprised to run into ... another crowd! But these animals have authentic musical instruments and official red uniforms. This is an actual band! The two groups eagerly mingle, forming a band that's twice the size. They all march down the path, producing loud blasts of happy sounds.Bright, cheery illustrations of sweet barnyard animals make this is a super fun read. I particularly love the colorful triangular banners the birds hold up; these turn a walk down the lane into a parade. I'm not sure where the second group of animals procured band jackets for all and even hats to fit a trio of geese, but I don't care. They are funny and smart and very loud.If your kids don't insist on rummaging through your kitchen cabinets to make their own instruments immediately following the first read, something has gone terribly wrong. This will inspire them to march to their own beat! Everyone loves a bull in coat with epaulets, right? Get reading!
A**Y
Lyrical prose and dancing, music-playing animals draw young readers in
Lyrical prose and dancing, music-playing animals draw young readers in. It starts with a mouse and a spoon, then a cat joins in with a tin can and a spatula, then a hen joins in, followed by a goat and several more animals until the whole barnyard comprises a band. Kids will love the alliteration and the growing number of animal characters as the music grows. A great book to practice counting and reading.
C**S
Let's Have a Parade
With the tap of a spoon to a teacup, a mouse starts the song of a band, calling the farm animals into line. "Boom Bah" the music plays, as all of the animals join in. The delightful rhythmic, rhyming text keeps the story musical and light. Children ages 2-5 will gather round and join right in.
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