Chuck's Band

July 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 1-Chuck lives on a farm, and on one of his trips to town, he purchases a banjo, inspiring the farm animals to create a band. Flo the goat joins with a mandolin, Nip and Tuck the dogs play the guitar and the harmonica, Lou the cow joins with the washtub, and Sue the pig plays the violin. What a joyous sound they all make, having fun with a "cluck, hum, pluck." Only one friend is left out; Fat Cat Pat does not want to play. So Chuck takes her to town, where he discovers the perfect "instrument" to accompany the band during Fat Cat Pat's kitty nap. Anderson delivers the story via short sentences, simple concepts, and basic language. The rhyming prose flows naturally, like a song, producing a pleasing balance between words and their onomatopoeia counterpart. Beginning readers will have fun with the humorous setting and laugh at the surprising end. The lively primary colors and crayon-based illustrations add delightful details not present in the text. VERDICT An excellent addition for most libraries.-Kathia Ibacache, Simi Valley Public Library, CA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
Previously published as picture books, these easy readers, with pithy rhyming texts and comical art, are great for new readers. When Farmer Chuck's truck breaks down (�cf2]Truck�cf1]), the farm animals call handyman Hugh and "together they make the truck like new." In �cf2]Band�cf1], one by one, the animals join Chuck with his new banjo; soon there are ten cheerfully raucous players.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)