Teach Your Buffalo to Play Drums

PreS-Gr 2—Vernick and Jennewein are known for giving advice to young buffalo owners, and in this follow-up to Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? (HarperCollins, 2010), the animal's owner is going to help him become a drummer, even if she has to tie the drumsticks to his hooves and build him a soundproof room in which to practice. The child applauds his early successes and encourages him to join the school band. The text asks questions that will help identify an interest in drum playing in buffalos. "Has your buffalo always loved music?" "How's his rhythm?" Several small pictures appear on most pages, surrounded by ample white space, showing the huge animal trying to engage in human activities like skateboarding and showering, resulting in some very funny scenarios. His expressions are priceless as he attempts to sit on a stool or hold drumsticks. By the end of the book, concerns about excess noise in the house and time management issues have been addressed and the creature is ready to begin his first concert, but not as a drummer as expected. It appears this buffalo has a short attention span, and a curiosity about juggling.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada