Can You Canoe? And Other Adventure Songs

Children’s folk/bluegrass duo the Okee Dokee Brothers (aka Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing) move into children’s books with this title featuring 12 of their songs (an audio CD is included). Children with even the slightest outdoorsy inclinations will be easily drawn into the songwriters’ inviting descriptions of life under the stars (“So I moved down to the river,/ Where fishin’ hooks pay the rent”) and playful sights like “The Bullfrog Opera” or a beaver wedding in “Mr. and Mrs. Sippy” (Mrs. Sippy—get it?). Reese’s sweeping illustrations highlight a sense of joyful exploration in the great outdoors, and the musicians’ twangy rhythms and thoughtful lyrics should please parents as much as children. Ages 4–8. (May)