Peter TchaikovskyMike Venezia0-516-44537-5Reading level: Ages 9-12Paperback: 32 pagesPublisher: Childrens Press Chicago (March 1995)

*This is one in a series of books.

ComposersFrom School Library JournalGr 2-4--In these two cheerful books, Venezia takes the same approach he used in ``Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists'' series (Childrens). The material is conveyed in an upbeat, if slightly irreverent, manner, allowing children to see the composers as real people. Black-and-white and full-color photographs and period art reproductions appear throughout, in addition to numerous colorful cartoons. The purpose may be to parallel the fine art and music of each book's time period, but the author does not expound on this concept. These slim volumes are more visually appealing than either Barbara Mitchell's America, I Hear You (Carolrhoda, 1987) or Ann Rachlin's Tchaikovsky (Barron's, 1993), but they contain much less information.Robin Works Davis, Hurst Public Library, TX Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Pictures at an ExibitionAnna Harwell Celenza978-1570914928Reading level: Ages 9-12Hardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Charlesbridge Publishing; Book and CD-ROM edition (February 2003)

ComposersFrom School Library JournalKindergarten-Grade 4-From the author and illustrator team of The Farewell Symphony (Charlesbridge, 2000) comes a new gem for music lovers. Celenza brings to life three Russian friends-composer Modest Mussorgsky, architect Victor Hartmann, and art critic Vladimir Stasov. When Hartmann dies, Mussorgsky is plunged into despair and cannot create music. Concerned about him, Stasov prods him into attending a posthumous exhibit of Victor's artwork. The paintings inspire the composer's musical tribute to his friend, "Pictures at an Exhibition." The story is based on many primary-source documents-correspondence, an autobiographical essay, and an obituary-but Celenza weaves in a depth of emotion that makes these individuals' lives unforgettable. This same attention to detail is evident in Kitchel's illustrations; not only does the artist capture the energy and movement of the music in her vibrant watercolor-and-ink illustrations, but she also confines them within symbolic borders of traditional Russian and Ukrainian folk-art motifs. They harmonize well with the accompanying CD recording that includes both piano and orchestral versions of Mussorgsky's famous composition. Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Pink and SayPatricia Polacco0-399-22671-0Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 48 pagesPublisher: Philomel (September 15, 1994)

From School Library JournalGrade 4 Up-This picture book set during the Civil War is a departure for Polacco in terms of content and audience. It is certainly the deepest and most serious book she has done. Sheldon Curtis, 15, a white boy, lies badly wounded in a field in Georgia when Pinkus Aylee, an African American Union soldier about Sheldon's age, finds him and carries him home to his mother, Moe Moe Bay. Sheldon, known as Say, is nursed back to health in her nurturing care. But then she is killed by marauders, and the boys return to their units. They are then are captured and taken to Andersonville, where Pink is hanged within hours of their capture. One of the most touching moments is when Pink reads aloud from the Bible to Moe Moe and Say. Say tells them that he can't read, but then he offers something he's very proud of: he once shook Abraham Lincoln's hand. This is a central image in the story, and is what ties the boys together for a final time, as Pink cries, "'Let me touch the hand that touched Mr. Lincoln, Say, just one last time.'" The picture of their clasped hands, with the hands of the soldiers wrenching them apart, is exceptionally moving. Polacco's artwork, in fact, has never been better. She uses dramatic perspectives, dynamic compositions, and faces full of emotion to carry her powerful tale. History comes to life in this remarkable book. Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

please, baby, pleaseSpike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee0-689-83233-8Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1 edition (November 1, 2002)

Amazon.comFilmmaker Spike Lee and wife Tonya Lewis Lee join the ranks of other celebrity kids' book writers with their sweet, rhythmic read-along about the endless energy of a toddler blasting through a busy day.

Purple Mountain Majesties: The Story of Katharine Lee Bates and “America the Beautiful”Barbara Younger0-439-07665-XPublisher: Scholastic (1999)

Patriotic SongsFrom School Library JournalGrade 2-4?A picture-book look at the origins of a beloved song and at the woman who wrote the words. In 1893, Katharine Lee Bates of Wellesley College traveled west by train to be a visiting lecturer at a college in Colorado Springs. Stopping at Niagara Falls and at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, she jotted impressions along the way. The stunning scenery of Colorado inspired her to write a poem in praise of all she had seen and about the American ideals she held dear. The verses were published and later set to music. After several revisions, the song known today as "America the Beautiful" was composed by Samuel Ward. This fictionalized snippet of history will be of interest to children studying patriotic songs. The writing is serviceable and succinct with occasional quotes from Bates's diary. Full-color paintings show Bates enjoying her journey and offer some stunning views of mountains, hills, and plains. The complete lyrics of the song can be found on the back cover; unfortunately, no score is included. An additional purchase for music or Americana collections.?Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

RainPeter Spier978-0440413479Reading level: Ages 4-8Paperback: 40 pagesPublisher: Yearling (March 10, 1997)

Folk Song Rain Rains-mSing AloudProduct DescriptionThis wordless picture book captures the beauty and wonder of a brother and sister's joyous experiences in the rain. Come along as they explore their neighborhood, splash through puddles, see where the animals hide, and make footprints in the mud. From the first small drops of rain to the clear blue sky of a bright new morning, Peter Spier's Rain will delight parents and children again and again.

Rattlebone RockSylvia Andrews0-06-443-484-2Reading level: Ages 4-8Paperback: 32 pagesPublisher: HarperTrophy (September 30, 1997)

From BooklistAges 3^-6. There's not much story here, just a rhythmic rhyme that describes a Halloween gathering in the cemetery. The musical moans and rattling bones add up to a rock beat so catchy that even the neighbors head over to the cemetery to join the fun. The cartoon-style art is more funny than frightening, and while it isn't a first purchase, kids should find the book an amusing enough diversion. Ilene Cooper --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Red, White, Blue, and Uncle Who? The Stories behind Some of America’s Patriotic SymbolsTeresa Bateman0-8234-1285-7Reading level: Ages 9-12Hardcover: 64 pagesPublisher: Holiday House; 1st ed edition (September 2001)

American SymbolsNational AnthemFrom BooklistGr. 3-6. This upbeat volume presents 17 "patriotic symbols," an umbrella term that encompasses everything from the flag to Uncle Sam, from Mount Rushmore to the Korean War Memorial. Bateman finds plenty of interesting information to share about each symbol or site, and browsers will be entertained by the many stories of origination, construction, and history. Students researching the topics will regard this book as a lucky find: a dependable source of data and a good read, illustrated with unexpected humor. O'Brien's ink drawings will reward observant children with plenty of playful action and comical details, such as the crew of painters that troop toward the White House with buckets labeled red, blue, green, and oval. Some topics, such as the history of the Pledge of Allegiance, are illustrated with less levity, but with graphic skill, originality, and style. Never stuffy, this may hook as many browsers as researchers. Carolyn Phelan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Remarkable Farkle McBride (The)John Lithgow0-689-83340-7Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 70 pagesPublisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (September 1, 2000)

InstrumentsConductingAmazon.comStar of 3rd Rock from the Sun, actor John Lithgow is less well known as a music enthusiast, but in his comical verse story The Remarkable Farkle McBride, he has created the musical prodigy he would perhaps like to have been. Farkle is a little boy with astounding talents (he's playing violin with the orchestra by the age of 3) but little perseverance. Each year he gets bored with his instrument, takes up and masters a new one, and then gets bored with that. Of his recently beloved trombone, he says, "The racket is more than my eardrums can bear! So return it or throw it away! I don't care!" In the end, Farkle realizes that the whole orchestra is his instrument: he finds satisfaction as a conductor, and the book ends with a gatefold of him triumphantly leading all the other musicians. C.F. Payne's illustrations combine a Norman Rockwell realism with a caricaturist's sense of humor. (Ages 5 and older) --Richard Farr

Rooster Crows: A Book of American Rhymes and Jingles (The)Maud and Miska Petersham0-689-71153-0Reading level: Ages 4-8Paperback: 64 pagesPublisher: Aladdin; 1st Aladdin Books Ed edition (August 30, 1987)

Product DescriptionWinner of the Caldecott Medal.Generations of children have grown up with "The Bear Went over the Mountain," "Lazy Mary," and "Yankee Doodle." here is a collection that includes these, and many more of the favorite playtime rhymes that are a lasting part of America's -- and childhood's -- heritage.Maud and Miska Petersham's classic illustrations bring this "American Mother Goose" to life, in a way sure to charm both children and adults.

Senor Don GatoJohn Manders0-7636-1724-5Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Candlewick; 1st ed edition (July 28, 2003)

Sing aloudFrom BooklistPreS-Gr. 2. Originally a Mexican rhyme that transmogrified into a traditional song that is not widely familiar, this boisterously illustrated interpretation will likely be a new favorite among youngsters. After Senor Don Gato climbs on a roof to read a love letter, the good news that the fluffy, white, sweet lady cat will wed him makes him so happy that he falls off the roof and breaks his knee, his ribs, and all his whiskers. Doctors come on a run but declare him dead. But when the funeral passes market square, the smell of fish brings him back to life. The bright, exuberant gouache illustrations, featuring a cast of bug-eyed cats (Don Gato wears a blousy, ruffle-necked shirt and a hat with a large feather), add the right amount of exaggeration and operatic flair to the entertaining story. A "meow-meow-meow" refrain runs throughout the rhyme as a chorus, and two pages of musical notation give children ample opportunity to "sing" along. Julie Cummins Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Shoo Fly!Iza Trapani978-1580890762Reading level: Ages 4-8Paperback: 32 pages

From School Library JournalPreS-Gr 1-Take a perky song, extend it, surround it with effervescent illustrations, and you have a winner. An intrepid little mouse spends quite a while fighting a very persistent fly. At the end of the battle of wits, both youngsters are lovingly tucked into bed by their respective parents. The illustrations are sure to delight as familiar household items figure in the skirmish. When rather traditional mouse parents tuck in their wee child, observant readers will enjoy the sponge-and-crayon bed and cork hobbyhorse. The music and words to all of the verses are included on the last page. Any library with Trapani fans will want a copy of Shoo Fly and those who haven't tried her previous adaptations could start with this one.-Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Snow MusicLynne Rae PerkinsReading level: Baby-PreschoolHardcover: 40 pagesPublisher: Greenwillow; 1st ed edition (September 2, 2003)

From School Library JournalPreSchool-Grade 4-This picture book begins and ends with a whisper of snow. In between, a lost dog, a boy, a girl, a deer, a rabbit, and a squirrel cross paths as readers follow their tracks through the vast white of the pages. The tracks are both textual and pictorial as they create meandering word patterns and paint pictures of footprints in the snow. From the "peth, peth, peth" of the falling snow to the "jingle, huff, jingle, huff-" of the runaway dog, the text sings. The written word becomes a choral reading with solo voices while the ink-and-watercolor illustrations add another dimension to the composition. On some pages the paintings add a hush to the music; on others they brighten the song. White backgrounds create a crisp cold day, while more colorful, painterly pages realistically picture the rural neighborhood. This title will harmonize well with Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day (Viking, 1962) and other wintry favorites.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Something Big Has Been HereJack Prelutsky0-590-45509-5Reading level: Ages 4-8PaperbackPublisher: Scholastic Trade (June 1991)

PoetryFrom Publishers WeeklyIf this anthology of light verse and black-and-white drawings from Prelutsky and Stevenson were a movie, it would be titled The New Kid on the Block Part II. In format, subject matter and tone, fans of the earlier volumes will rejoice in finding more of the same. These are not poems to savor for their metaphoric language or depth of thought, but are instead frivolous, rib-tickling verses about the "Ghost Who's Lost His Boo," about "Rhododendra Rosenbloom" who buys perfume from a "ten scent store," or about the "Fearless Flying Hotdogs" who are "mustered in formation / to climb, to dip, to dive." Prelutsky's comic monologues focus on such topics as "I am Tired of Being Little" or "I'm Sorry! for being a brat," or the irresistible declaration of love, "Warteena Weere Just Bit My Ear." From Twickles and Moodles to the making of Grasshopper Gumbo, the emphasis is on the preposterous. Stevenson's waggish drawings provide half the fun in this comic collection that skips lightly on the mind and tongue. Ages 5-up. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Splish, SplashJeff Sheppard0-02-782455-1Reading level: Baby-PreschoolSchool & Library BindingPublisher: Atheneum; Library Binding edition (April 1994)

From School Library JournalPreSchool-One by one, a different animal falls in the water and make its own distinctive sound. The rhyming text has a pleasing and predictable rhythm to it and lends itself to group participation. Children will love making the sounds themselves-buzz, squeak, oink, ruff, moo, ribbit, etc., alternating with "splash." Panek's cut-paper, double-spread illustrations are colorful and detailed, depicting friendly, appealing creatures. Sure to be a big hit in story hours.Christine A. Moesch, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, NYCopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Stamp Your Feet Action RhymesSarah Hayes0-688-07694-7Hardcover: 29 pagesPublisher: William Morrow & Co (August 1988)

Rhymes, MovementFrom School Library JournalTwenty action rhymes that are suitable for use in preschool story hours. Pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings demonstrate possible actions to accompany the rhymes. The children in the illustrations, wearing animal and monster costumes and masks, owe more than a little debt to Sendak's street children in Really Rosie. The poems are ebullient and most, as in Marc Brown's Finger Rhymes (1980) and Hand Rhymes (1985, both Dutton), are traditional. Rhymes such as the familiar ``The Wheels on the Bus'' and ``I'm a Little Teapot'' are presented in the British version. Many of the rhymes are songs (``Down by the Station,'' ``One Elephant''), but no music is included. An acceptable collection, but it's not worthy of foot-stamping enthusiasm. Kathleen Whalin, Public Library of Columbus and Franklin County, Reynoldsburg, Ohio Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Star-Spangled BannerPeter Spier (The)0-440-40697-8Reading level: Ages 4-8Paperback: 56 pagesPublisher: Dragonfly Books (February 1, 1992)

National AnthemProduct DescriptionDue to careful research, Spier's artwork depicts "the dawn's early light" and "the rocket's red glare" with remarkable authenticity and detail in this celebratory book. Among the highlights: a brief history of the anthem, a reproduction of Francis Scott Key's original manuscript, music for guitar and piano chords and many photographs.

Star-Spangled Banner (The)Amy Winstead978-0824954628Hardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Ideals Publications (June 3, 2003)

Book DescriptionFirst time author Amy Winstead skillfully weaves a historically accurate, yet fictional, account of Francis Scott Key and the British bombarding of Fort McHenry. The story is told from the perspective of a young boy and his brother who accidentally become ensnared in the intrigue of the historic night and culminates in the writing of our national anthem. Dramatic and rich watercolor illustrations, accurate to the smallest detail, bring the action to life.

Story of the OrchestraRobert Levine (The)978-1579121488Reading level: Ages 9-12Hardcover: 96 pagesPublisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers; Har/Com edition (October 2, 2000)

InstrumentsFrom School Library JournalGr 4-8-Orchestra Bob guides readers through a delightful musical journey. The book is divided into two major parts: composers from Vivaldi to Bernstein and their associated musical periods, and the instruments of the orchestra. There are interesting and sometimes humorous bits of information about the men, their music, and corresponding historical events. The last two pages introduce the conductor. Quotations, boxed definitions, and the captions that accompany the colorful photos and spot cartoon drawings enhance the instructive text. In some places, however, the drawings are in stark contrast to the photos and take away from the overall appearance of a page. An accompanying CD provides musical selections for readers to listen to at specific places in the text. These selections are short enough to keep young listeners' attention. Although some well-known figures, such as Handel, Schubert, and Strauss, are missing, this is a fun way to travel through the world of music. Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NE Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

SummertimeGeorge Gershwin Dubose Heyward and Dorothy Heyward 0-689-85047-6Reading level: Ages 4-8Paperback: 32 pagesPublisher: Aladdin (June 1, 2002)YouTube:Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstronghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yKgAEkCKxY

From School Library JournalKindergarten-Grade 5-Gershwin's haunting tune, full of nostalgia and a sweet melancholy, is transformed here into a lullaby picture book for parent and child. Wimmer's oil paintings depict an African-American farming family "earlier in this century," as the jacket copy suggests. There is a timeless feel to the illustrations that is hard to pinpoint. The clothing appears to be from the 1940s. The dry sink in the kitchen, ice togs (for an icebox), and general sparseness of the furnishings might indicate a family of limited means, but the children are well dressed, and the mood throughout the book is one of easy contentment. The double-spread paintings are rich in color and texture, and their realism indicates they were probably done from models. There is no real story line to the images; they exist as framed moments. Each depicts a "summery" family scene with one line of text. But-although written as a kind of lullaby-the song was never really intended for children, and the mood in the text and illustrations speaks primarily to adults. Still, because of its view into a specific kind of family life not often pictured in children's books and its lovely tone, this title may find an audience.Nina Lindsay, Oakland Public Library, CA Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Teddy Bear, Teddy BearMichael Hague0-688-10671-4Reading level: Baby-PreschoolPublisher: HarperCollins (April 23, 1993)

From School Library JournalPreSchool-- Hague's lumpy and pudgy bears (a mother and child) are done in warm golden watercolors accented with Chinese red and warm blue hues. The text, framed by a border of bears and stars, appears on the left-hand pages. Additional touches include the teddy "turning around" into a puddle and then tracking mud into the house. And when he needs to "show your shoe," he really has something to display. A "Note to Parents" gives instructions for acting out the rhyme. Marc Brown (Dutton, 1989) and Carol Lawson (Dial, 1991) have similar versions available, but Hague's unique style merits another look. A cozy treat. --Jacqueline Elsner, Athens Regional Library, GACopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

That’s Good, That’s Bad!Margery Cuyler0-8050-2954-0Reading level: Ages 4-8Paperback: 32 pagesPublisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (October 15, 1993)

From School Library JournalPreSchool-Grade 2. A cheerful calypso beat by Chris Kubie introduces this recording of Margery Cuyler's That's Good! That's Bad (Holt, 1991). A pleasant male voice reads the story of a boy's zoo adventures slowly and clearly, as a chorus of expressive children's voices chant the refrain, "That's good" or "That's bad." Having children interact with the reader on the tape is excellent, emphasizing the participatory nature of the tale. Children reading along in the book will have no trouble following the story and will enjoy the lively pictures by David Catrow. One side of the cassette includes page turn signals (the sound of a turning page). This is a very nice resource for learning centers and beginning readers. It might even encourage young writers to try their hand at this type of story.Elizabeth C. Fiene, Clermont County Public Library, Bethel, OHCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

That’s Good, That’s Bad! In the Grand CanyonMargery Cuyler0-8050-5975-XReading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (April 1, 2002)

From School Library JournalKindergarten-Grade 2-The boy from That's Good! That's Bad! (Holt, 1993) is back, this time visiting the Grand Canyon with his grandmother, for an adventure that is at least the equal of his earlier saga of near-disasters. He falls off a cliff ("that's bad") only to find himself on a raft ("that's GOOD!") that hits the rapids ("that's BAD!"). The nonstop action just goes from one comic mishap to the next, ending most happily with the boy reunited with his grandmother to spend the rest of his vacation sitting on her shoulders ("that's GOOD!"). The story begs to be read aloud-young listeners will join in on the repeated choral comment without being urged. The wild slapstick of the child's escapades is portrayed in exuberant illustrations that are full of movement and energy. A natural for storytime.Marian Drabkin, formerly at Richmond Public Library, CACopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

This Land Is Your LandKathy Jakobsen0-439-13225-8PaperbackPublisher: Scholastic (2000)

YouTube:Pete Seger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_2dOlr-fkI&feature=related YouTube:Woody Guthriehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaI5IRuS2aE&feature=related

Patriotic SongsChildren's LiteratureJakobsen has managed to show our country's diversity both in people and scenery. The paintings are breathtaking. Each double page spread includes two lines of the song. At the completion of the song, there is a colorful foldout map showing the Woody Guthrie Memorial Highway and the array of people and activities that inspired him. A three-page tribute to Guthrie by Pete Seeger, with family photos and the music, complete the book. The only thing missing is a tape of Guthrie singing this spine-tingling song which could easily be our national anthem. The most inspirational book of 1998.

This Little Light of MineIllustrator: E.B. Lewis068983179X Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (January 6, 2005)YouTube:Pete Segerhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJQUu50SmZ4

From BooklistPreS-Gr. 2. Lewis illustrates this familiar African American spiritual with a series of full-page and double-page watercolor paintings that create sun-dappled outdoor scenes and portray individual characters with equal finesse. Each painting interprets phrases from the song within the framework of a "wordless" story in which a boy walks from his home to a ball field, stopping along the way to greet and help others in his rural, African American community. The pictures do not illustrate the words in the traditional sense, but they form a visual counterpoint that enriches the verse by making it more concrete and meaningful to young children. In keeping with the refrain of the spiritual, light fills the pictures, brightening and warming the day and shining from the face of the boy and the people he meets. Adults who interpret the song's "light" in terms of God's presence or gifts will find the book a good vehicle for sharing those thoughts, but children will find the simple visual storyline satisfying as well. The book concludes with the musical score with notes, chords, and four verses. Painted with spirit and grace, this is one picture book that should always be sung. Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Three Swingin’ PigsVicky Rubin (The)Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (March 29, 2007)

From School Library JournalGrade 1–4—Toe-tapping, claw-snapping, and bebopping replace the usual huffing and puffing in this jazzed-up version of the traditional folktale. Porcine siblings Ella, Satch, and Mo have formed a trio that is all the rage with their animal audiences. Their successful musical future is in jeopardy, however, when Wolfie, a self-described "classic fairy-tale villain," decides to exact retribution for his failure to capture their uncles in earlier days. Will the three swingin' pigs win over Wolfie with their sweet music? Fortunately for them, he's a bit of a ham and loves performing. Full of porker-inspired puns and clever repartee, this fast-paced tale has definite appeal. The colorful, cartoonlike acrylic illustrations are a perfect match for the zany, slightly over-the-top story line. Whether used as part of a unit on fractured fairy tales or read independently just for fun, this version will have its audience howling.—Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Thump, Thump, Rat-a-tat-tatGene Baer0-06-443265-3Reading level: Baby-PreschoolPaperback: 32 pagesPublisher: HarperTrophy (September 30, 1991)

From Publishers WeeklyThe "festive colors" and "flashing brass" of a marching band appear before the reader in this foot-stomping parade of color. "Big as ants" and "loud as crickets," the tiny marchers climb off a yellow bus. The reader hears the band's "distant drums/chirping horns/THUMP, THUMP/THUMP, THUMP."Colors and sounds grow larger and louder as the band grows closer ("big as birds/loud as lions/THUMP, THUMP/THUMP, THUMP"), then gradually fade away. Baer's crescendo and de-crescendo of words is amiably matched by the typesize and by Ehlert's stylized marchers. The design is crisp and inventive; abstract but definable bandmembers made of rectangles and circles in primary colors step smartly across vivid pages. Readers will want to cheer for this rat-a-tat-tat parade. Ages 2-6.Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

To Market, To MarketAnne Miranda0-15-200035-6Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 36 pagesPublisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1 edition (September 1, 1997)

From School Library JournalPreSchool-Grade 3?What begins with the traditional serene nursery rhyme turns into a slapstick excursion filled with mishap and mayhem. A "fat pig" is not enough for this ambitious shopper. The elderly woman makes return trips to the market for a hen, trout, lamb, cow, duck, and goat. While she is acquiring more, her earlier purchases are wreaking havoc. Patterned, staccato verses tell the zany tale, but it is Stevens's wonderfully wild illustrations that bring it to life. The conventional home's interior is pictured in flat gray charcoal tones. The woman and her animals are colorful, oversized figures that burst off the pages. The collage technique allows for the contrasting colors and styles that magnify the uncontained boisterous fun of this very imaginative book. Visual format, repetition, and rhyme make this title an ideal choice for sharing aloud. It could also be used as a springboard for writing projects as children start with a familiar rhyme and make it their own. All-in-all, a delightful, albeit raucous, romp. Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WICopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Today is MondayEric Carle6-987-1563-5Reading level: Ages 4-8Paperback: 32 pagesPublisher: Putnam Juvenile (August 4, 1997)

From Publishers WeeklyTaking his culinary cue from the well-known children's song, Carle dishes up a smorgasbord of creatures and comestibles. Bold spreads feature larger-than-life birds and animals enthusiastically partaking of their favorite foods: a mottled snake sucks up unruly spaghetti strands, while a calico cat lays a protective paw on Thursday's roast beef. Though the cumulative rhyme is little more than a grocery list, Carle injects energy and movement with his signature rainbow-like collages. Exotic hues--a turquoise elephant, an emerald fish, a parrot of Technicolor plumage--glow with vitality as if illuminating the animal's inner core. Yet despite their radiance these are down-to-earth animals imbued with the loving clumsiness of a child's artwork. The final spread shows children--also of various skin colors--wolfing down the various foods at a sumptuous banquet, as the featured animals look on from paintings on the wall. The song's music and lyrics bring this feast to a satisfying close. Ages 3-7.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Twas the Night before ThanksgivingDav Pilkey0-531-05905-7Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Scholastic (September 1, 1990)

ThanksgivingRead AloudBeatFrom Publishers WeeklyPatterned as a parody of the celebrated Clement Moore poem, this story of eight baby turkeys unfolds with joyous abandon and crackling vitality, as eight children embark on a Thanksgiving field trip that will change their lives forever. They are breathless as they catch sight of Farmer Mack Nuggett for the first time: "He was dressed all in denim, / From his head to his toe, / With a pinch of polyester / And a dash of Velcro." The exuberant turkeys--Ollie, Stanley, Larry, Moe, Wally, Beaver and Groucho--catch the children up in raucous barnyard antics until the merriment is quelled by the sight of the ax. Deeply touched by the turkeys' plight, the children--who have grown mysteriously fatter and have feathers sticking out from under their clothes--board the bus to go back to the city. The next night, family silhouettes can be seen--each with a grateful turkey guest--as "They feasted on veggies / With jelly and toast." This humorous, lighthearted story is adorned with bold, bright illustrations that convey a sense of wacky high-spiritedness sometimes lacking in traditional holiday fare. Ages 4-7.Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Twelve Days of Kindergarten (The)Deborah Rose Lee0-8109-4512-6Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 30 pagesPublisher: Harry N. Abrams (August 1, 2003)

From School Library JournalPreSchool-Grade 1-Set to the familiar tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," this poem enumerates a child's experiences upon entering kindergarten. The youngster begins, "On the first day of kindergarten, my teacher gave to me the whole alphabet from A to Z!" and proceeds through 5 gold stars and ends with 12 eggs for hatching. The word "kindergarten" is unavoidably awkward and practice may be in order to perfect your delivery if you choose to sing it. The real charm of this book lies in the hilarious illustrations that chronicle the harried teacher's adventures with her new students. On art day, a boy spills a big jar of green paint, one kid picks his nose in every scene, bees get loose from a display on a field trip, and on and on. The style is reminiscent of Babette Cole's work not only in the drawings but also in the sense of humor. This one will pair nicely with Joseph Slate's excellent contributions to this subject including, Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten (Puffin, 2001).Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little StarIza Trapani1-879085-70-4Reading level: Ages 4-8Paperback: 32 pagesPublisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (March 1997)

Sing AloudFrom School Library JournalPreSchool-Grade 2?A little blonde girl gazes out of her window at a twinkling celestial object, greets it with the traditional childhood rhyme of the title, and requests that she might have her wish that night. Her wish comes true when the smiling star appears in her window and takes her on a magical ride through the sky. The combination of serene, lovely landscapes and a cartoon, smiley-faced star has a hodgepodge effect. The rhyming text, while serviceable, switches voice from the girl to the star with no punctuational differentiation, resulting in some confusion when reading aloud. Musical notation is included, which will make this useful as a lullaby, but it is a disappointing, overly sweet and contrived follow-up to Trapani's clever Itsy Bitsy Spider (Whispering Coyote, 1993).?Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Twist with a Burger, Jitter with a BugLinda Lowery0-395-67022-5Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 1 pagesPublisher: Houghton Mifflin Company; Library Binding edition (September 1995)

From Publishers Weekly"Dance a mambo/ snap to a rap/ put on your cleats and tap, tap, tap," exhorts Lowery in this blithe boogie through different dance styles. Upbeat as the meter is, however, it varies not a whit as the topic shifts from jig to jive, wiggle to waltz-in its rhythm and structure, the verse could as well be about vegetables or animals as music and movement. To some extent Dypold (One Cow Coughs) follows Lowery's one-note lead-with the exception of the ambitious, full-bleed final spread, her cut-paper compositions, merry melanges of mostly tropical colors, swim in a surfeit of white space, giving the book a visual sameness. But Dypold jazzes up her work with unstated jokes: pigs dance the jig; bunnies hop; the cleat-wearing tap-dancers are football players. Unusual papers-e.g., a few have a tie-dye effect; others are patterned-add complexity, and perky perspectives impart a sense of motion. Ages 4-7.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Wall (The)Eve Bunting0-395-51588-2Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Clarion Books; 1 edition (April 23, 1990)

Viet NamFrom School Library JournalGrade 1-4-- A boy and his father have come to the Vietnam War Memorial to look for the boy's grandfather's name among those who were killed in the war. They find his name surrounded, but far from lost, in the rows of print that "march side by side, like rows of soldiers." "I'm proud that your grandfather's name is on this wall," says the boy's father. The boy agrees, adding, "but I'd rather have my grandpa here." Before this powerful book is half finished, readers will be deeply moved. Bunting's understated prose captures the meaning of the memorial to the American people, especially to those who lost loved ones, without being maudlin or heavy-handed. Himler's gauzy watercolors are a perfect accompaniment: impressionistic enough for the characters to appear as everymen. A sensitive and moving picture book, and a great discussion book as well. --Catherine vanSonnenberg, San Diego Public Library, CA Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

War Between the Vowels and the Consonants (The)Priscilla Turner0-374-38236-0Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st ed edition (September 18, 1996)

Vocal ExplorationRhymesFrom Publishers WeeklyIn the turn-of-the-century world pictured in this clever "history," upper-case Vowels don't let their lower-case kids play with little Consonants, and "Consonants [prefer] their own sounds: PRGHT! or SSSSP! Good, strong, snapping noises." Petty skirmishes escalate into a civil war: Vowels strategize ("We'll hit them with our screeching sounds"), Consonants attack an EIEIO formation ("Let those barnyard sounds try to stop the snarling GRRR's") and Y's become "a house divided." The Turners, a sister-and-brother team, trump standard alphabet books with this singular story, which concludes as the battling letters finally unite to fight a greater foe: a giant, illegible scribble. Priscilla Turner's inventive wordplay is an exercise in pronunciation, as when the Consonants send in "the freezing BR's." Whitney Turner's expressive Vowels and Consonants posture with stick arms and legs and the merest hints of facial features. They do battle in single-engine planes shaped like T's and E's, and at the happy ending, dancing pairs spell out "WE" and "US." What a bunch of characters! Ages 4-8. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

What Charlie HeardMordicai Gerstein0374382921Reading level: Ages 9-12Hardcover: 40 pagesPublisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); First Edition edition (March 18, 2002)

From School Library JournalGrades 3-6--A prominent 20th-century American composer is brought to life through this biography in picture-book form. Young Charlie always listened to the sounds around him and tried to re-create them as he started writing music, whether it was a cheering crowd or a brass band parading through the town on the Fourth of July. However, his work wasn't taken seriously until late in his life when it was accepted as a new form of music called Art Music. The cleverly drafted illustrations show how the many sounds combined in Charlie's head to form one musical idea. Sounds in different colored typeface, from ducks quacking, fire engines clanging, and trumpets "tatatating," appear over the energetic art, and readers can almost hear the cacophony of life. In one of the most memorable scenes, two marching bands, one colored in blue and the other in yellow, move toward each other playing different music with the myriad sounds combining in a rainbow of colors above their heads. The local residents can be seen in the background with their hands over their ears. Older children, especially those with some musical training, will come away with a good understanding of Ives and his work. This is an excellent purchase for libraries looking to develop their music collections on a subject about which little has been published. Lisa Mulvenna, Clinton-Macomb Public Library, Clinton Township, MI Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

When I Was Young in the MountainsCynthia RylantReading level: Ages 4-8Paperback: 32 pagesPublisher: Puffin (January 1, 1993)

AppalachiaFrom Publishers WeeklyWhen I was young in the mountains, Grandfather came home in the evening covered with the black dust of the coal mine. Now, Cynthia Rylant's When I Was Young in the Mountains, illus. by Diane Goode, a Caldecott Honor book, returns in a 20th-anniversary edition wrapped with a copper-colored commemorative band. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.Book DescriptionFor twenty years, Cynthia Rylant's story of childhood in the Appalachian Mountains has been an enduring favorite. Growing up in the mountains is depicted with a spare, lyrical text and beautiful, tender illustrations by Diane Goode. The book was awarded a Caldecott Honor Medal. To celebrate its twentieth anniversary, When I Was Young in the Mountains is being released with a commemorative copper-colored band. Illustrated by Diane Goode --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

When Marian SangPam Munoz Ryan0-439-26967-9Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 40 pagesPublisher: Scholastic Press; 1st edition (October 1, 2002)

YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQnzb0Jj074&feature=related

Performers, Civil Rights, OperaAmazon.comAs this skilled duo did with Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, Pam Muñoz Ryan and Brian Selznick bring to life the story of yet another remarkable American woman, gifted black contralto Marian Anderson. Undoubtedly one of America's greatest singers, Anderson was hardly known in her own country because of her race--music schools ignored her applications ("We don't take colored!") and even after she began singing professionally, many venues only featured white performers. Ryan's well-paced story becomes especially poignant as she recounts Anderson's overwhelming success in Europe ("one newspaper in Sweden called it 'Marian Fever' ... In Austria, the world-famous conductor Arturo Toscanini announced that what he had heard, one was privileged to hear only once in a hundred years"). The book reaches its climax with a wordless, deep brown two-page spread from Selznick, a crowd's-eye view of Anderson singing at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, an historic concert that drew an integrated audience of over 75,000. Ryan's simple, metered text (punctuated frequently by lyrics) captures the quiet drama of Anderson's story, and kids will especially identify with the confusion and frustration of young Marian. And as with the pair's previous collaboration, Selznick's rich illustrations ably convey the undeniable strength and courage of a talented, determined woman. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

Whiskers and RhymesArnold Lobel0-688-08291-2Reading level: Ages 4-8PaperbackPublisher: HarperTrophy (October 26, 1988)

RhymesFrom Publishers WeeklyLobel will probably have to make room for another prize on his mantel when his new book appears. It's a fat volume of original verses, illustrated in the award-winner's beguiling style. Full-color pictures place his cast, male and female felines, in the 19th century. Their attire is authentic and charming and so are their attitudes as they act out notable events. There are "Friendly Fredrick Fuddlestone/ Could fiddle on his funny bone . . . / His furious father/would flatly forbid it,/ Which, of course,/ is why young Freddy did it," and more comments of a deliciously comic stripe. But Lobel can just as surely create a wistful feeling: "Postman, postman,/ Bring my mail./ Let me serve you/ Cakes and ale./ The day was sad,/ But now it's better . . ./ A friend has written me a letter."Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Who Killed Cock Roben?Etienne Delessert 978-1568461915Reading level: Ages 4-8Hardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Creative Editions (August 2004)

From School Library JournalPreSchool-Grade 4 - In this delightful version of a traditional ballad, Delessert recasts the characters as a group of children wearing oversized bird suits. The busy opening spread shows the partially costumed actors in various stages of playful disarray. In the second scene, a youngster in Cock Robin garb wordlessly directs another costumed child to place an arrow in his breast. The text of the ballad begins on the following page and continues until the last line: "All the birds of the air/Fell sighing and sobbing,/When they heard the bell toll/For poor Cock Robin." As if to belie these words, the children emerge from their avian attire, grinning and happy. An air of mystery is created through the placement of incongruous objects: a moon peers from under tree branches, a fish soars high above the surface of the water, and the late Cock Robin's beak pokes the rubbery chin of the Man in the Moon. Delessert continuously shifts perspectives and expectations, as in the scene where a firefly (seen in close-up) dwarfs the silver moon. His animals are elegantly gorgeous, with stylized claws and feathers, and luminous glassy eyes. When the fish catches Cock Robin's blood in its little dish, the artist imagines the blood as two perfect strawberries. Alternately strange and lovely, and inviting myriad interpretations, this is one of Delessert's most accessible and well-realized picture books. - Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Worth a Thousand Wordsby Bette D. Ammon and Gale W. Sherman1563083906Paperback: 210 pagesPublisher: Libraries Unlimited (September 15, 1996)

Resource BookFrom BooklistOn the premise that TV-generation students learn better from pictures or pictures married to text, children's librarians Ammon and Sherman have put together a collection of 645 picture books that can be used with students grade four and above. All were published pre-1995 and were selected for their artistic and literary quality because they deal with issues and themes that affect older students, and because they are accessible to many learning styles. Some are out of print but readily available in libraries. The book brings to the attention of both librarians and teachers books that may be overlooked because they are shelved in the picture book collection.The entries are arranged alphabetically by author or editor, or by title if the author is unknown. A brief annotation describing the book is followed by specific suggestions for using it in the curriculum. Fourteen icons are used to indicate whether the book is useful for math, history, art, research, read-aloud, etc. These icons and their meanings are repeated across the bottom of each spread. Books on the same theme are frequently suggested, and many titles are assigned several icons. For example, Goble's Star Boy is suggested for students studying the stars, legends about the stars, or the art of the Cheyenne and Lakota tribes. Subject headings are provided for each book in the left margin, and there are subject, author-illustrator, and title indexes.While the argument can be made that assigning a broad grade level to each title would have been helpful to those totally unfamiliar with the books, the overall usefulness of this large, wide-ranging collection to student teachers, to new teachers without a strong background in children's literature, and to librarians serving those clienteles is undeniable.

Zebra-Riding Cowboy (The)Angela Shelf Medearis978-0805053029Reading level: Ages 4-8Paperback: 32 pagesPublisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (March 15, 1997)

Sing AloudFrom School Library JournalKindergarten-Grade 4-- Bold illustrations for this old cowboy song masterfully set straight many myths about the Old West and its inhabitants. A ``citified,'' educated dude shows up at the Cimarron camp looking for a job. Conspiring to trick him, the cowpokes mount him on the meanest, orneriest horse around, the Zebra Dun. But for all the nasty moves Dunny makes, the stranger outwits him, forcing the chagrined cowboys to concede, ``Every educated fellow's not a plumb greenhorn.'' Brusca's bright, cartoon watercolors are packed with tall-tale action, campfire contrasts, and startling perspectives. The stylish, bespectacled African-American is surrounded by a wide ethnic variety of cowpunchers: Mexican, African, and Anglo-American. The musical score and Medearis's afterword explaining the motivation for and findings in her research will provide ideas for innumerable spin-off activities in music, drama, art, language arts, and social studies. -Claudia Cooper, Ft. Stockton Independent School District, TXCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Zin! Zin! Zin! A ViolinLloyd Moss0671882392Reading level: Baby-PreschoolHardcover: 32 pagesPublisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (March 1, 1995)

Amazon.com"The STRINGS all soar, the REEDS implore, / The BRASSES roar with notes galore. / It's music that we all adore. / It's what we go to concerts for." In this exuberant tribute to classical music and the passionate, eccentric musicians who play it, author Lloyd Moss begins with the mournful moan and silken tone of one trombone. A trumpet sings and stings along, forming a duo, then a fine French horn joins in, "TWO, now THREE-O, what a TRIO!" The mellow cello ups it to a quartet, then ZIN! ZIN! ZIN! a violin soars high and moves in to make a quintet. The flute that "sends our soul a-shiver" makes a sextet, and "with steely keys that softly click," a sleek, black, woody clarinet slips the group into a septet. We move on! A chamber group of ten! And the orchestra is ready to begin. Moss should be congratulated for creating a playful, musical stream of rhyming couplets that seamlessly, slyly teaches the names of myriad musical groups. Marjorie Priceman, the whimsical, masterful illustrator of Elsa Okon Rael's When Zaydeh Danced on Eldridge Street and Jack Prelutsky's For Laughing Out Loud, won a Caldecott Honor Award for this swirling, twirling, colorful musical world worthy of thunderous applause and a standing ovation. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson