TANKA TANKA SKUNK!

Tanka the elephant and Skunka the skunk are the stars of this humorous animal-identification story that uses rhythm and rhyme to establish the concept of rhythmic beats. For example, Skunka introduces a kangaroo by saying, “His name has three beats.” Each syllable is then shown spread across a set of drums, illustrating the concept of beats. A repeating refrain using the two main characters beating on drums is interspersed with rhyming sequences of animal names with cartoon-style illustrations of each character. There isn’t much of a storyline, but the text has the advantages of rhyme, rhythm, and repetition, and children will enjoy chanting along through repeated readings. This is a title that kindergarten and first-grade teachers will find useful for reinforcing the concept of syllables, as a story for shared reading sessions, or as independent reading for new readers. The amusing animal expressions, bright palette in summery shades, and hand-lettered text in bold black letters add to the overall appeal. (Picture book. 3-7)