A crocodile playing a snare drum, a big brown bear with a bass, and a weasel with a banjo form a traveling band to play for the other animals in the woods. From spring to fall, they always attract an eager crowd. But when winter comes, the animals in the audience go off to bed and the band searches for a new stage in town. At winter’s end, the band is exhausted so they return to the woods to sleep.

Catchy rhyming text:  “Snap went the croc on the little snare drum. / Poom poom, the big, brown bear thumped with his thumb. / Jingle, jangle, strummed the weasel, all steady and strong. / Snap-poom-jingle-jangle went the animal song.” Colorful, comical illustrations will make it a fun read for story time. There is a musical score at the back of the book and readers can listen to the “free accompanying song and read-along” at https://jontyhowley.com/shop/theanimalsong-songandstory

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library