Review by Booklist Review
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 Chuck's Truck (2006), this pleasing picture book would make a good intro to musical activities for young children.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2008 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-A simple rhyming tale of latent musical talent let loose. Each barnyard animal-except a green cat-finds 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 harmonica-hum,/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 participation-spoons, 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 (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 Horn Book Review
(Preschool, Primary) Chuck's Truck (rev. 5/06), its spiffy new blue paint now matching Chuck's overalls, plays a minor role in Chuck's second outing. This time the focus is on the band that accumulates as, one by one, the farm animals join in. Farmer Chuck starts it off with his new banjo; then, "Here she / came, the / old goat Flo. / She heard / Chuck play his / new banjo. / Chuck bought her a mandolin. / Now [dogs] Nip and Tuck / want to join in." Soon there are ten cheerfully raucous players, with such homely instruments as bucket and washboard supplementing the various strings and voices. But what is troubling the bilious-looking green cat, skulking through art that's otherwise dominated by loud, crayon-bright colors? Could it be envy? On the contrary: Fat Cat Pat wants ear protectors in order to sleep all day -- ear protectors that prove useful to Chuck himself when Fat Cat Pat and the mice begin their nighttime drumming and caterwauling. Once again the comical art and rhythmic text will keep the youngest chuckling, while the entertaining rhymes are great for new readers. From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
While cogitating in his rocking chair, green cat resting at his feet, Farmer Chuck gets a notion and goes into town to Ariel's Music Store. He buys a banjo for himself and a mandolin for goat Flo. Once they start playing, other farm animals run to join in, starting with dogs Nip and Tuck (on harmonica and guitar, respectively). The big cow Lou joins in on the washtub, and sow Sue adds a mean fiddle. Chuck goes back to town for more instruments, adding a bass violin for Huck the workhorse and a washboard for Luck the duck. The chicken and Buck the mule add vocals. Poor Fat Cat Pat feels left out. Chuck takes her to town, where he buys the cat a pair of earmuffs, perfect for sitting at her master's feet as the band plays on. Bright acrylics, a cleverly rollicking text and the introduction of many farm animals and instruments nudge this above average. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
