Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band
Witty wordplay, lively barn animals mix in fun, jazzy tale.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, by Kwame Alexander, is a fun picture book for young readers with delightful names for the animals that will give anyone reading aloud a chuckle. The lesson, that you can succeed without winning it all, is a nice reminder to enjoy the journey in life, not just the destination. At the end of the colorful, nicely illustrated book there are several pages packed with information about the history of jazz music, a glossary, and famous names in jazz.
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What's the Story?
The musician in search of a band in ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND is a bass-playing rooster hoping to score big in the barnyard talent show. But he's turned away when he tries to join forces with Duck Ellington, Ella Finchgerald, Mules Davis, and others. Still wanting to give the best performance, he forms his own band and plays a remarkable tune, one that makes an impression on all the other musicians at the show.
Is It Any Good?
The bright, friendly illustrations are a lovely match to the witty names and the upbeat message in this tale of animal musicians. Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band is fun to read aloud for both the names of the other animals (Thelonius Monkey, Duck Ellington, etc.) and the message that sometimes you still win even when you don't finish at the top. Author Kwame Alexander packs lots of great information about jazz and history at the end of the book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how success is defined in Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band. Can you think of a time when you didn't come in first but were happy with what happened?
Have you listened to jazz music? What do you think of it? What kinds of music do you like?
What other books about music have you read? Which are your favorites?
Book Details
- Author: Kwame Alexander
- Illustrator: Tim Bowers
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Friendship, Horses and Farm Animals, Music and Sing-Along
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
- Publication date: September 1, 2011
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 5 - 8
- Number of pages: 32
- Available on: Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: August 27, 2021
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For kids who love music and animals
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