From Publishers Weekly
Harter (Walking Through the Jungle) once again plunges into a flamboyantly hued jungle, andAas the title hintsAthe joint is jumpin'. With a cast of multi-ethnic children (including a wheelchair-bound girl) serving as guides, readers discover that all the inhabitants have rhythm, like the fluffy black bear with a purple nose who "goes shake, shake, boogie, woogie, oogie!" and a hooded red snake with blue polka dots who "goes slither, slither, boogie, woogie, oogie!" Harter offers up spirited animal characterizations on each spread: a wiry orange monkey swings through the sapphire sky, a lean saffron leopard covers two spreads in a single leap. The paper-over-board book's visual electricity, along with its irresistible repetition of the "oogie" sound and rollicking beat (a simple music score is included at the end of the book, so the text can be sung) make this a particularly good choice for a lively group with an itch to move. Ages 2-6. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-Filled with brilliant tropical colors, this lively picture book combines poetry, song, and dance into a dazzling and fun-packed guessing game. On one double spread, the text reads, "Down in the jungle, come if you dare!/What can you see shaking here and there?" A clue in the illustration shows a boy peaking at an animal that is partly concealed by a large tree. A turn of the page reveals a bear that likes to dance: "Shake, shake, boogie, woogie, oogie!/That's the way she's shaking here and there." A monkey, a leopard, an elephant, and several other creatures also move in their own particular ways. The rhythm of the text encourages children to boogie-woogie right along. The vivid illustrations, done in watercolor, crayon, and pen and ink, show lush jungle scenes, colorful animals, and a cast of smiling children. A simple musical score is included. Similar in tone to Harter's Walking through the Jungle (Orchard, 1997), this book makes a great choice for storyhours.
Karen Land, Greenport Public School, NY Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
