Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie Starring Indigo Blume

Two of Alexander’s eponymous heroes star in this musical crossover celebration. Happy to contribute to her community but suffering cold feet at the prospect of headlining the Garden City Community Festival, Indigo dreams herself into the swinging barnyard of Acoustic Rooster and his punny-named musical friends. When a sudden storm demolishes the barn, Indigo proves her mettle twice over by organizing a benefit concert and stepping in for the ailing Dairy Parton (“the diva is hoarse... even though she is a cow”)—and wakes ready to rock the house. Published to accompany a children’s show slated for the Kennedy Center, the book stands a little unsteady in its own right, with a creaky story, skimpy characterization, and dialogue that mostly seeks to set up lyrics. Bowers, however, is all in, with exuberant illustrations that have the cast jumping and jiving; if readers can conjure up melodies in their minds, they’ll be bopping right along. Ages 6–8. [em](Aug.) [/em]