REVIEWS

Kirkus Reviews
11/01/2006
"Pritchett offers a stylish telling of an original how and why story. The animals in the African forest realize that their disparate sounds are actually music. It begins with the gathered animals making their individuals noises: “Hyena yelped . . . monkey chittered.” But when the elephant starts beating on a hollow log with his foot, his rhythm—“Boom boom boom boom padadada boom!”—captures the fancy of the other animals. All join in except the silent frogs, watching from their lily pads. The jam sessions accelerate, with dancing and improvised beats, and on the seventh day the silence of the forest is broken by the “Reep-reep-ree!” of the frogs. King Frog croaks out the beat, and everyone is part of the animal orchestra. Banks’s stylized oil paintings give the African forest a rich, dark beauty. In an author’s note, Pritchett offers helpful suggestions for listener participation."
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The Bloomsbury Review
Nov/Dec 2006
"The African forest, booming with the din of yelping hyenas, chittering monkeys, hooting owls, and a host of other wild animals, gives rise to a splendid and powerful music in this innovative first picture book, the very first music ever to strike the ears of our ancestors. The quiet opening rhythms-Padada-pada-pada, Padada-pada-padada-pada-gradually grow louder-padada BOOM, padada BOOM, padada BOOM-and more complex, as lions, elephants, hawks, crocodiles, and buffalos alike come together in a jubilant celebration that lasts for six days. On the seventh day, when all has fallen silent, an unexpected new addition-the reep-reep-ree of the frogs-resounds through the forest, jump-starting the boisterous revelries all over again. Banks' dynamic angular illustrations are fully infused with the life and energy born of this first music. Young listeners will be eager to jump up and participate in the rhythmic music-making this story so successfully invites."
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Booklist
12/01/2006
"Fresh and intriguing, this African cumulative tale of the origin of music unfolds in a vibrant storyteller's voice. The forest has many sounds:hyenas yelp, buffalos groan, monkeys chitter, and crocodiles snort. Only the frogs are silent. When an elephant stubs its foot on a hollow log, it begins beating the log with its foot. As the animals listen to the rhythm, they join in: "Crane's claws tinkled over the scales on Crocodile's back." For six days the animals (except the frogs) dance, play, and sway, and on the seventh day, when everyone else is quiet, the frogs sing "Reep-reep-ree!" The message (everyone has something to add in the mix) is subtle, but clear enough for children to understand. However, it's the stylized, earth-toned illustrations, resembling carved wooden figures, that really rock and roll, evoking the synergy of the forest animals. Varied type colors and sizes add visual vibration to a tale ripe for audience participation."
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School Library Journal
1/01/2007
"Pritchett's original story gives a folkloric explanation for the development of polyrhythmic and polyphonic music. At first, all the African animals make their sounds without regard to the others. One day, almost by accident, they listen to Elephant stomping, "Padada BOOM-pada BOOM!" and begin to add their own rhythms and voices ("Shh-ka-shh!," "Skee-de-lee!," etc.), and the resultant dance party goes on for days. Only the frogs sit listening on the periphery. Finally, in the quiet dawn of the seventh day, the frogs lift their voices: "Reep-reep-ree!" and before long everyone else joins in. This book practically insists upon audience participation. The stylized earth-toned illustrations employ patterns found in African carvings and fabrics to good effect. In the right hands (and feet and voices), this will make for a rousing storytime."
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Library Media Connection
Vol. 25, Number 6, March 2007
Grades 1-4. Highly Recommended.
"Highly Recommended. From the beautiful endpapers to the color palate throughout the book, the sense of place and natural beauty of West Africa come through. Although an original tale, the storytelling flows as though it is a tale told many times. The animals discover that the noises they make on their own can be combined together into wonderful music. As they are enthusiastically making music together, the frogs sit quietly thinking that their bodies are not equipped to make music. However, they discover that they can lend their voices to the music and they do with gusto. Pritchett’s storytelling background is evident in the pacing and drama of this story. The illustrations are done in rich tone and saturation of oil paints, but Banks’ style resembles woodcuts in the use of line and contrast making them a wonderful match to the story. This would make a wonderful read-aloud and is tailor-made for audience participation. The message of community and acceptance, and the importance of everyone’s contribution, comes through without being overbearing. This is a welcome addition with multiple options for classroom use." ***Starred Review***
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Lower Columbia Review Group
"I can see the music teacher using this book with her students at our elementary school. The author has spent time in West Africa and states: 'sounds are part of everyday life.' The author begins his book in the African forest. The hyena, owl, buffalo, parrot, monkey and crocodile make their own special sounds as the frogs watch. It is not until the end when the frogs discover how to join in."
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Troy Broadcasting Corporation
"A joyous book which sees music as developed by the sound of African animals!"
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