How Do You Wokka-Wokka? (by Elizabeth Bluemle)

“Some days you wake up and you just gotta wokka,” this book begins as a boy bounds out of his house and dances onto the street. One by one, kids show off their dance moves and join him on a funky parade through the neighborhood.

Scatting and hip-hop flavor this lively, irresistible read-aloud. Parents might want to rehearse it once or twice before story time. This demands an energetic, rhythmic reading, and occasional awkward lines can knock you out of your groove. That’s a shame, because there are some delightfully fun lines: “I wokka-wokka like a fish flop on a dock-a/flip-a-floppa off-the-docka put-me-back-in-wata-wata.” Stumbles aside, playful language and plenty of nonsense words will delight pre-readers.
It’s challenging enough to explain how to wokka-wokka, but even more challenging to draw it. S. Britt’s diverse cast of kids shimmies, shakes, slides, and hops through the streets.

It’s challenging enough to explain how to wokka-wokka, but even more challenging to draw it. S. Britt’s diverse cast of kids shimmies, shakes, slides, and hops through the streets.

Author: Elizabeth Bluemle
Illustrator: Randy Cecil
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication date: August 11, 2009
Number of pages: 32
Paperback price: $15.99
Read Aloud: 3
Read Alone: 6