Reading Rocks!

K-Gr 4—Veteran singer/songwriter Johnette Downing combines spoken word stories and songs in this rich collection. The majority of the original songs emphasize reading and would be useful in story times and library settings. Downing also puts a couple of entertaining twists on the traditional tune "Today Is Monday" by first setting the song in Kentucky where burgoo and sorghum are enjoyed, and later taking listeners to New York for pastrami, cheesecake and, finally, bagels and lox on Sunday. Interspersed with the songs, Downing tells the stories from her entertaining picture book: "Why the Oyster Has the Pearl," "Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud," and "Why the Possum Has a Large Grin." Her crystal-clear voice and varied pacing and cadence holds listeners' attention throughout. While the stories and songs can easily be used separately, there is a smooth flow between them that also makes the album enjoyable as a whole. This unique combination makes this album a welcome addition for children's collections.—Veronica De Fazio, Plainfield Public Library District, IL