Cool Time Song [Hardcover]

Carole Lexa Schaefer (Author), Pierr Morgan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2005 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

On the sunbaked earth of the savannah, kudus and zebras, giraffes and lions move slowly through the hot African day, looking for shade, leaves to nibble, a resting place. Everything is quiet. But when the sun sets, a cool time settles on the savannah and the song begins. Puh-tuh. Puh-tuh. Puh-tuh, drum the zebras with their hooves. Vroo-oot. Vroo-oot. Vroo-eet! trumpet the elephants. And the lions roar Grr-mrow-ool! Like heat, their cool time song rises and spreads, sifting down to people's ears in words. With beauty, respect, and a dose of imagination, Cool Time Song shares an anthem that everyone should hear-love and protect our earth.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3–As the sun comes up on the African savanna, the animals seek shelter from the rising swelter. The Earth rotates, the sun goes down, and the creatures' movements create what Schaefer calls a "cool time song." "Kudus and zebras drum with their hooves–Puh-tuh. Puh-tuh. Puh-tah"; "And hyenas howl–Haroo-hee-hee. Haroo-hee-hee-hee." This song rises from the cooled planet and sifts back down as a message for the people of the world: " 'Care for the water.' 'Tend the land.' 'Laugh together.'" The text is particularly strong in the first three quarters of the book, with vivid descriptions of how some of the animals cope with the heat ("elephants must crust themselves with layer upon layer of dust to protect their tough, thick skins"). The final message, however, seems jarring, interrupting the smooth charm and rhythm of the earlier text with a point that would have been better shown than told. Morgan's rich illustrations are full of texture, color, movement, and, most of all, atmosphere. They radiate the growing heat of the day, and are awash in layers of evening cool. This is a terrific book for art teachers to use to introduce lessons in color and line. Purples change from hot to cool depending on adjacent colors. Pair this title with Graeme Base's The Water Hole (Abrams, 2001) for a mini-lesson on protecting Africa's natural resources, or use it to generate discussions of day and night.–Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS. The cocreators of several acclaimed picture books, including The Squiggle (1996), offer this lyrical, sun-soaked call for peace. Just a few lines per page describe midday on the savanna: "Sun rules the day. It beats down so hard on the dry land." Giraffes search among the "tender, scorched leaves"; elephants protect their skins with dust; lions, hyenas, zebras, and other animals wilt in the burning heat. Then, "Earth turns. Dusk comes. And even Sun's fierce power fades." In the fading sunset, animals gather at the water hole, drink themselves cool, and stamp out a joyful song that rises "like the heat" to humans everywhere: "Care for the water. / Tend the land"; and also laugh and sing together. Some may find the closing message a bit heavy-handed; others will embrace the straightforward, heartfelt sentiment. Both camps will enjoy Morgan's arresting, full-spread illustrations, which radiate the scorching heat in ochre tones, followed by the joyous, rainbow-hued celebration of cool. Together the art, the rhythmic poetry, and elemental sounds create a lovely read-aloud that's sure to find an appreciative young audience. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (March 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670059285
• ISBN-13: 978-0670059287
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 7.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,871,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A favorite with our family!, October 12, 2008

By 

Beach Mom (Manhattan Beach, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cool Time Song (Hardcover)

This is a lovely book with beautiful illustrations and a poetic story line. Our toddler requests this book over and over again, and we never tire of reading it.