I’m introducing Children’s and Young Adult book reviews to She Is Too Fond of Books. Some will be authored as guest posts by my older children, I’ll collaborate on others with my younger children. In keeping with the theme of my blog, loosely based on Louisa May Alcott, we’ll refer to them as “Little Women” and “Little Men”. The reviews will appear on this home page, and will be indexed on a separate “Children’s Book Reviews” tab at the top of the page.
We start today, appropriately for the U.S. Independence Day, with a review of a children’s picture book titled Yankee Doodle.
Like a fractured fairytale, Mary Ann Hoberman’s rendition of Yankee Doodle modifies a traditional story with unconventional twists and turns. Hoberman creates several new verses for the familiar song, which add a girl, a poodle, a toad and a rooster to Yankee Doodle’s entourage. They open a restaurant, aptly named “Yankee Doodle’s Noodles” which serves yummy apple strudel along with oodles of noodles. Hoberman’s new verses flow with an even rhythm and cadence. The revised lyrics offer a fun and funny adventure.
This is one in a series of “Sing-Along Stories” that Hoberman has collaborated on with Nadine Bernard Westcott. Westcott’s pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations delight the young reader with action-packed details that expand on Hoberman’s lyrics – the poodle balances a dozen bowls as he serves the hungry customers in the macaroni-shaped restaurant while Yankee Doodle and the others cook up steamy vats of tasty treats.
Each book in the series opens with a copy of the musical score; readers are encouraged to sing each verse to the melody. Following the story is a page of activity ideas that continue the fun – simple counting and rhyming games, craft suggestions (in this case, make a feathered cap), gross motor games (plan a parade, march to the rhythm), and questions that stimulate further exploration (why is the Fourth of July important to our country?).
This is an excellent book that I didn’t tire of reading to my children when they asked “one more time?”. During the second reading they joined in reciting some of the rhymes with me, and were “reading” to themselves soon after. Highly recommended.
Are there patriotic-themed children’s books that you’d recommend?
Oh, I love the books that are based on lyrics. They are so much more fun when reading to my nephew. We both can sing and read at the same time, and we both get a kick out of it. Thanks for letting me know about this one!
What a great idea to encourage reading and writing with your children!! I may have to do the same:)
Sounds like a good one. I’ve always loved the song. I’ll have to get this for my nephew. Great idea on the older kids reviewing books – I am going to see if my daughter would be interested. Maybe it’ll get her to read more.
1,2,3 – the book really is a keeper (and we borrowed it from the library, so, yes, that means we’ll be buying it soon!)
I love the stream-of-consciousness remarks I get from the younger kids; since they’re not reading they really notice the details in the illustrations and can tell me “what kind of art” the illustrator used (collage, watercolor, pen and ink); cool observations!