Jam, Too?

A man walks onto the beach with a conga drum on his shoulder. He sits down and starts to play. A young girl across the street watches and wishes she could play. A boy on a skateboard is pulled along by two dogs. He carries a djembe. He asks if he can play too. They play together and a woman with a shekere soon joins them. A man with zills walks up the beach and joins the group, adding his sound. A man and woman on a bicycle bring maracas to the group. Then comes a man with bongos to complete this small community of musicians. The girl watching has no instrument to play, but she finds a way to join in anyway.

This is a cute book that celebrates the joy of music and community, the thrill of coming together to create a joyful noise. JaNay Brown-Wood writes a fun, lyrical text that will have young listeners tapping along with the meter. The bright illustrations filled with tropical colors create the impression of movement and are the perfect complement to the rhythm of the text. Youngsters will enjoy this one.