Jake the Philharmonic Dog [Hardcover]

Karen LeFrak (Author), Marcin Baranski (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Like most dogs, Jake loves playing fetch. Unlike most dogs, Jake loves music even more. He loves to wag his tail to the beat of an ordinary day and "sing" with the birds. When his friend Richie, the principal stagehand at the Philharmonic, brings Jake to work one day, Jake is treated to a lesson in real music.  He "woofs!" to the tweeting woodwinds and "ruffs!" to the deep horns, but when he hears the entire symphony orchestra practice, he knows to be quiet and listen. And when a crisis develops at that night's performance, Jake steps onstage and steals the show.

 

Inspired by the real-life mascot of the New York Philharmonic, Jake the Philharmonic Dog is a pitch-perfect introduction to the different sounds and instruments of the orchestra.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-2–Jake, canine friend to Richie, the principal stagehand of the Philharmonic Orchestra, answers the birds, the cars, and the clap of thunder with a distinct bark, a wagging tail, or flattened ears and a whine. Jake simply loves sound. His first trip to Richies workplace confounds him as he confuses car horns with the brass section and the rumble of thunder with the boom of the percussion section. It also results in his false identification of the conductors wand as a new toy and eventual duty as principal stagepaw. LeFrak introduces musical terms within the story, including identification of the instruments. Illustrations, done in acrylic and tempera paint, frame the account of the pups activities. This straightforward, predictable story will appeal to dog lovers and may serve as a painless introduction to the orchestra as well. Pair it with Alan Madisons Pecorinos First Concert (S & S, 2005) or Lloyd Mosss eye-catching Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin (S & S, 1995).–Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

"More Bach than bark! This is a wonderful read for dog lovers, music lovers, and any child who loves a good story. Jake is certain to win Best in Show."  --Itzhak Perlman, world-renowned violinist
 
"This is a sheer delight.  The world needs lots of Jakes.  It's a must for kids of all ages, and a great introduction to the magical world of the orchestra." --Beverly Sills, American opera singer and international opera star
 
"I have met Jake backstage at the Philharmonic, and he is a friendly dog with heroic qualities, like Snoopy, Toto, Nana, and Old Yeller, worthy of a book. Life at a great orchestra is much more fun with a good dog nearby."
--Garrison Keillor, author and host of A Prairie Home Companion
 
"Karen LeFrak has written an enchanting story for children that is also an outstanding introduction to the world of the orchestra." --Lorin Maazel, Music Director of the New York Philharmonic

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (August 22, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802795536
• ISBN-13: 978-0802795533
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,153,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and Informative, October 17, 2010

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Jake the Philharmonic Dog (Hardcover)

LaFrak has done a wonderful job making Jake the Philharmonic dog an entertaining and educational story. The story is inspired by the REAL mascot of the New York Philharmonic! Through Jake's adventures, we get a great introduction to a number of different instruments in the orchestra. My kids all thoroughly enjoyed the book. We also loved her Jake and the Ballet Dog.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pascale's Dog Review, March 13, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Jake the Philharmonic Dog (Hardcover)

The book Jake the Philharmonic Dog, in my opinion, could be about a real dog and a real band. I really think that Jake the Dog is sweet. It seems that he really doesn't like thunder, but he likes dog biscuits. I think his owner is really nice to him -- that's why I like this book!