Fiction

Thomas the Tank Engine: It is Great to Be an Engine (Interactive Music Book)

"It is Great to Be an Engine" plays five songs for children to sing while telling tales about Thomas the Tank Engine and the other trains in the station.

Yellow Submarine

A whole new generation will be climbing aboard this sunny, psychedelic
storybook, while nostalgic Beatles fans of all ages will be clamoring for a ticket to ride.

Once upon a time (or maybe twice), some 80,000 leagues beneath the sea, there lay a colorful land of song and laughter called Pepperland, where Sergeant Pepper's Band was always playing your song — until the Blue Meanies burst on the scene and chased all the music and magic away. So began the classic 1968 film Yellow Submarine, inspired by a song and hailed as an avant-garde amalgam of pop art, Beatles music, and highly innovative animation. Now that film's dazzling images — and its lighthearted, witty tale — is showcased in a glorious picture book sure to be savored by fans and readers of all ages.

Music over Manhattan (Picture Yearling Book)

Parents and children alike will love this irresistible story about finding one's own special talent.

Bernie has lived his entire life in the shadow of his cousin Herbert.  But after Bernie's eccentric Uncle Louis teaches him to play the trumpet, he no longer has to play second fiddle to his cousin.  All of a sudden, "Background Bernie" is a big hit!  And when he plays his favorite song, "Moonlight Over Manhattan," at a family wedding, Bernie's magic can't be ignored.


From the Hardcover edition.

Worst Band in the Universe

Australian author and illustrator Graeme Base's books are all musical, but The Worst Band in the Universe (with its accompanying 25-minute CD) clearly trumpets the loudest... in a Blippian sort of way. Like The Eleventh Hour, The Sign of the Seahorse, and Animalia, Worst Band takes place in a nonhuman context, this time in a dystopian planetary system far from Earth.

The premise is this: Sprocc, expert at the guitarlike splingtwanger, has the creative itch to write songs. But alas, his planet, Blipp, has strict creative rules about music. All songs must come directly from tradition, so Sprocc's desire to "call the tune... or else forsake the stage" leads to his exile from Blipp and a variety of galactic run-ins with authority. This includes the "Worst Band in the Universe" contest which, of course, is actually a best band contest that takes him deeper into dismal realms. Sprocc sharpens his musical delivery, hooks up with another long-time Blipp exile, and eventually the planet is freed from the rigorous creative restrictions with a mix of innovation and tradition.

In the tangle of rhyming couplets and fantastical illustrations is plenty of food for thought. On a purely musical level, The Worst Band in the Universe is an instructive volume, complete with a CD of Blippian music. It's a profound creation, conjured so that its ingredients will reward scrutiny. (Ages 7 and older) --Andrew Bartlett

On Planet Blipp, beyond the stars,
beyond the sun and moon,
The world was ruled by music --
but tradition called the tune.
The Ancient Songs of ages past were all that could be heard,
And no one was allowed to change a single note or word ...

So begins the cosmic tale of Sprocc, a young Splingtwanger-player who leaves his home planet, Blipp, in search of musical freedom. Sprocc enters the annual Worst Band in the Universe Competition -- and is launched skyward on an adventure of truly intergalactic proportions.

Graeme Base, creator of the best-selling picture books Animalia, The Eleventh Hour, The Sign of the Seahorse, and The Discovery of Dragons, has now created an out-of-this-world fantasy complete with his own music, which he has performed on the enclosed music CD.

The Dog Who Sang at the Opera

The true story of a dog who outsang a diva at the Metropolitan Opera!

When Pasha, a vain wolfhound, gets a role at the opera house, she loves the limelight so much that she looks down her nose at Sluggo, a mutt clown dog. Lost in fantasies of herself as the true queen of the opera, Pasha begins to sing on stage! Reprimanded behind the scenes, Pasha finds that her only fans are Sluggo-and the newspaper that makes her, finally, the star she's always believed her-self to be.

Inspired by a true story from New York City's Metropolitan Opera, this enchanting book will appeal to dog lovers, opera lovers, and anyone with a sense of humor. It includes the original New York Times article and a letter from Renée Fleming, the prima donna who was upstaged by a pooch-but turned out to be a dog lover who thought the singing canine had given her a run for her money! AUTHOR BIO: Jim West and Marshall Izen are highly regarded puppeteers who were performing in the opera Manon when the incident that inspired this book took place. Jim continues to travel extensively, performing for children. Erika Oller is well known through her books with Lesléa Newman and her popular line of gift items featuring happy, rotund ladies.

Lookin' for Bird in the Big City

From bridge to street to subway, Miles Davis hears the king of bebop's music so clearly he feels they must be destined to meet. Finally, when it seems he has turned the last corner of the city, he finds him--Charlie Parker, the most fantastic bird ever heard. Robert Burleigh's soulful lyricism and Marek Los's bold brushstrokes combine to create a brilliant portrait of what might have happened one fateful night.

Lizard's Song

Bear was the kind who, when he wanted something, took it. And what he wanted was Lizard's song. Lizard was happy to share it, but somehow Bear just couldn't seem to get it right. "A jolly, amiable fancy about the value of finding one's niche and being one's own self."--Publishers Weekly. Also available in a Spanish-language edition, La Cancion del Lagarto.

The Song of Six Birds

When Lindiwe's mother first presents her with a flute, the young girl can hardly wait to play beautiful music on it. What a disappointment that the flute is empty and can only make a sound that causes the dog to howl! Fortunately, Lindiwe knows where to find music for her flute. She catches the trumpeting mahem of the crane, the bright tock-tocki-tock of the hornbill--even the soft doo-doo-doo of the shy rainbird. With the song of six birds filling her new flute, Lindiwe hurries home, gathering the people of her village with the irresistible tune that she plays.

Rene Deetlefs, one of South Africa's most beloved children's book authors, has given this story an authentic voice and a lively rhythm that make it perfect for reading aloud. The lyrical text is complemented by Lyn Gilbert's brilliantly colored paintings of a busy, loving community and a soulfully musical young girl who knows exactly how to capture the sweet melodies of her homeland.

Disney Princess: Fairy Tale Songs (Pop Up Song Book) (Play-A-Song)

In this pop-up song book characters jump off the page and into children's imaginations. Kids can sing along to familiar tunes with their favorite Disney Princess.

Camp Rock 'n' Roll (Two of a Kind #35)

Dear Diary,

This totally hip girl, Erin, just joined our band at camp. She is so cool, and we really hit it off. But Erin and my best friend, Phoebe, HATE each other. What a rock n' roll mess!

-- Ashley

Dear Diary,

One the girls in my band, Lark, has a big secret. And I know what it is -- Lark's dad is actually a huge rock n' roll star. So what is Lark doing here? I wonder. She doesn't need this camp to learn about music. Maybe Lark has another secret ...

-- Mary-Kate