School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Join this moonlit parade that begins with a boy and his teddy bear. As they stroll down the lane, they invite the dog they pass-"Here we come with a rum-pum-pum. Wanna come?" The dog with his guitar joins in, and then she invites Little Lu, the toddler they pass: "Here we come with a rum-pum-pum, and a pick and a strum. Wanna come?" And so it goes until their numbers include the boy, teddy bear, dog, Little Lu, an actual bear, hedgehogs, mouse, girl, and rabbit. As the drip on the drum turns into a fast-moving thunderstorm, the parade takes shelter under a tree (unconcerned about lightning, it appears) until it passes-then they march back the way they came, "Home we come!" The lyrical text is delightful to read aloud and could easily be sung. Bold and oversized text emphasizes each new instrument sound. The illustrations effectively reflect the text with perfect facial expressions of mostly joy, though with some confusion and concern regarding the storm. The mostly blue color palette with some muted greens, yellows, and reds embraces the nighttime. Skin tones include pink and brown. VERDICT A cheerful story of a nocturnal musical parade with repetition that invites active participation. Great for getting preschoolers to shake out the sillies before a quieter story-or any time.-Catherine Callegari