cover image Down by the Bay

Down by the Bay

Raffi. Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, $14 (32pp) ISBN 978-0-517-56644-2

The Raffi Songs to Read series presents tunes recorded by the popular children's singer in book form, imaginatively extended with colorful, exuberant illustrations. The result is an appealing companion set equally suited to both reading and singing along. In Westcott's interpretation of Down by the Bay, two young friends match wits as each tries to come up with the most outrageous rhyme: ""Did you ever see a goose kissing a moose?'' ``Did you ever see llamas eating their pajamas?'' The illustrations overflow with delicious absurdities. For the action-oriented verses of Shake My Sillies Out, Allender creates a group of spirited animals who cavort through the forest at bedtime, clapping their crazies out, jumping their jiggles out and wiggling their wagglies away. All the buoyancy and energy of this infectious song shine through in this pictorial narrative that doubles the fun. Ages 3-7. (October)