Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The Raffi Songs to Read series presents tunes recorded by the popular children's singer in book form, imaginatively extended with colorful, exuberant illustrations. The result is an appealing companion set equally suited to both reading and singing along. In Westcott's interpretation of Down by the Bay, two young friends match wits as each tries to come up with the most outrageous rhyme: ``Did you ever see a goose kissing a moose?'' ``Did you ever see llamas eating their pajamas?'' The illustrations overflow with delicious absurdities. For the action-oriented verses of Shake My Sillies Out, Allender creates a group of spirited animals who cavort through the forest at bedtime, clapping their crazies out, jumping their jiggles out and wiggling their wagglies away. All the buoyancy and energy of this infectious song shine through in this pictorial narrative that doubles the fun. Ages 3-7. (October) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2 Raffi's popular songs are now available in picture book format. In the first, his cheerful nonsense verses are illustrated with equal cheer. Wescott's scraggly lines and bright, clear colors humorously portray the busy children, jolly animals, and frantic mothers that populate the song. The final two-page spread includes all of the characters, some visible through the house windows, and watermelon vines galore. Music (melody line, with chords marked) is included. Children will quickly get the idea of the rhymes and delight in making up their own wacky sights to be seen ``down by the bay.'' In the second book, the sign on the title page warns that ``silly animals'' are lurking in the Mariposa forest, and silly they are. As night settles over the woodlands, the animals appear and begin to ``shake their sillies out'' in a manic attempt to get to sleep. They overrun nearby Camp Mariposa and are happily cavorting with the campers until everyone tires and goes to sleep. Allender's large, simple shapes and saturated colors create vivid images for a song that begs to be sung and shaken and jumped and clapped. Melody line and chords are included in both books so everyone can join in the fun. Two good choices for storytimes, especially on those days when no one can sit still. Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, Mass. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two of the popular Canadian singer's favorite children's songs produced as ebullient picture books. ""Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow, Back to my home I dare not go. For if I do my mother will say, 'Did you ever see a goose kissing a moose. . .?. . .a whale with a polka-dot tail. . .?' "" etc. Comic, cartoonish illustrations extend the silly humor; children will enjoy extending the song with their own rhymed incongruities. A night scene filled with laughing sounds prefaces the arrival of assorted woodland creatures who commence dancing about to ""shake my sillies out. . .and wiggle my waggles away."" They're soon joined by human campers, and the policeman and fireman the distraught counselor calls to quell all, but the shaking finally does the trick--everybody subsides into snoozing. Allender's stylized shakers are lively and amusing against the deep, nighttime forest. The songs, included, are sure-fire. Though they make rather slight picture books, if budgets are ample they may prove useful. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
