Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--An introduction to classical music terms for young children, for preschool story hours or to help them shake their sillies out. A conductor guides an animal orchestra through seven musical terms, showing how the conductor communicates each word on one page and depicting the group of animals acting out the word on the following scene. An array of animals hop, glide, and crash in symphony with the maestro's technique. Petri i illustrations demonstrate the musical terms they accompany. The illustrations of the conductor's arm motions are basic enough for children to imitate, while the animals' bursts of action will have children moving, too. It's quite an animal kingdom depicted here, from slow and steady seahorses to dancing dolphins and loud lions--there is something for everyone in this book. Back matter includes a pronunciation guide for the musical terms and their definitions. VERDICT An accessible and inviting look at aspects of classical music that will have children dancing.--Sara Thomas, New Castle P.L., DE
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Review by Horn Book Review
Under the direction of a human conductor, a menagerie demonstrates seven musical terms such as allegro and dolce. Each term is introduced on a mostly white double-page spread featuring just the word and the (white, male) conductor gesturing appropriately. The following spread is composed (ha!) of minimal text ("Gently gliding, / slipping, sliding" for glissando) and a selection of animals (penguins, an alligator, otters, snakes, and more) wearing little bow ties and energetically displaying corresponding movement. Together, Heidbreder's euphonious text and Petricic;'s dynamic illustrations offer bravura performances on every page. A pronunciation guide/glossary is included at book's end. (c) Copyright 2023. 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
Animal patterns fill a musical staff, and both conductor and baton are warmed up! A wild array of bow-tied animals awaits their human conductor, who opens the performance with a spirited allegro beat. The fish, insects, and mammals leap and pounce. Now the beat slows down to an adagio tempo that puts the fauna to sleep. A gracefully swift upbeat by the conductor sends the critters, tummy side down, "gliding, slipping, sliding" in a glissando. But then quickly executed arcs through the air herald a staccato beat that brings back leaping kangaroos and arcing dolphins along with jumping frogs and rabbits. Calm returns in dolce, as birds and koalas find love and pandas eat bamboo. But wait, this is not the end, as with the intensity of fortissimo, the baton flies out of the conductor's outstretched fingers, and noisy gorillas, lions, and hyenas bellow and roar. Sigh. Peace returns in pianissimo as eyes close and animals snuggle down. A pronunciation guide complete with succinct definitions concludes this orchestral workout. Scratchy cartoon illustrations cleverly and colorfully depict the many musical moods with humor. Fingers will tap, hands will clap, and feet will stomp along with a reading that should have musical accompaniment. Perhaps The Nutcracker? And guessing which animal fits into which instrument case on the cover is an added element of fun. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Musical mayhem to entertain and engage. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
