Customer Reviews

Howdi Do (Radunsky/Guthrie)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From the cover art alone, Howdi Do inspires giddiness and fun. This delightfully illustrated picture book is perfect for the 3-6 year old set, but will also make their parents laugh and smile. The Guthrie song alone is catchy enough, but when paired with Radunsky's eclectic and irreverent illustrations, its a winner all around.

Howdi Do is the narrative of the Woodie Guthrie song of the same title and it works as well in book form as in song. The text is cheerful and silly and complimented by the colorful illustrations of Vladimir Radunsky. Kids will love the simple rhymes of the verse and the silly words of the chorus. With the bonus CD of the song included inside the front cover, the whole family will be singing this folk song in no time. Read together, sing together and enjoy!

...I...prefer Woody's music performed by Woody himself, but I can attest that my children would rather listen to the band that perform on the CD that comes with this book. We have a decent collection of children's music and the one CD that leads the lists of requests is this one. Perhaps (and hopefully) when they grow older they will prefer the authentic Woody, but at this young age, this version is much more pleasing to their ears.

And the book's simple and happy message is a wonderful way to introduce your young children to Woody Guthrie and his vision of love and compassion for all.

My little boy and girl (ages 2 and 4) cannot type yet, but I speak for them when I give this book and CD the full 5 stars.

Great book at a great price, Howdi Doo is a song that I have used for years and now I have illustrations to go along with it.

The book made of Guthrie's song translates to written form suitable for very young children. It is mildly entertaining as a book, and the artwork, while flat and lopsided, is bearable. However, the accompanying CD is shamefully bad. I recommend skipping the book and buying one of Guthrie's CD's for children. The songs are much better when Guthrie sings them and accompanies himself. The music on this CD is as flat as the artwork in the book--no more banjo, please! On top of that, the mediocre musicians are accompanied by the Half Tone-Deaf Children's Chorus. The fourth track on the CD is a long, inane "discussion" between the book's artist and some children who are much too young and suggestible to have anything interesting (or even cute) to say. I recommend not wasting time on this package at all. If you do buy it, keep the book and turn the CD into a frisbee.