Customer Reviews

Tanka Tanka Skunk!

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My 2 and 3 year old love this book. They both pound out the rhythm as we read it and they get very excited about reading it faster and faster and trying to keep up with the rhythm. Not a great bed time story since it tends to get them riled up instead of calmed down. It's one of the few books in their collecton that I don't get bored reading over and over again. Like another reviewer I kept checking this out at the library and finally decided to buy it. The illustrations are large and easy to see and have helped my kids learn the names of different animals.

A skunk named Skunk and an elephant named Tanka love rhythm and rhyme. Skunk and Tanka like to meet different animals like alligator and polar bear. They always make a rhythm with the animals' names by dividing the syllables into beats. Skunk and Tanka also make rhymes out of the animal names. The book is an amazing way to teach syllables. Webb uses rhyme as well as rhythm to emphasize the syllables in the names of animals most children know. The illustrations only add to the magic. The animals are cartoon structure with vibrant colors that catch the audience's eyes. It brings excitement and learning together as one. The classroom becomes full of educated musicians.

I borrowed this book from the library for my 4 year old son to look at, and it was a success! He can read individual words, but sentences and paragraphs tend to overwhelm him. The animal names (with accompanying illustrations) in large print and arranged in a catchy rhythm had him reading the book to himself. Not great literature, but a fun read.

I'm a children's librarian and this is one of my favorite storytelling treats. It's utter nonsense, but the rhythm of the verse and the fun animals carry the day. Everyone loves chiming "Skunka Tanka, Skunka Tanka, Tanka Tanka Skunk!" My only advice: practice it a couple times before performing it before an audience. It can be tricky saying some of the alliterative lines, but they are so worth it!

Great little book. Even very young children can beat out the rhythm as you read this aloud. First heard about it at a workshop involving incorporting music in to preschool lesson and have easily incorporated it into my lessons. It's a lot more fun than beating out everyone's name repeatedly.

I purchased this book to read to preschool kids to increase their understanding of word segmentation and rhythm, which it does. But, what's great about it is they LOVE this book. They memorize it very quickly and say the words along with me. My grandchildren also love it and request it every time they visit.

My daughter has loved this book since she was three months. She's now 2 1/2 and it's still in our regular rotation. Great pictures, and everything has a cadence, so it teaches syllables. Fun for parents as well!

This books is so fun to read out loud! Lots of animals to learn too!

I have a 1 year old and a 3 year old who love this book. They go around the house citing phrases out of this book. The 3 year old has it memorized. The beat keeps them really engaged. We have read this book over and over again it is a bedtime favorite.

My son "reads" this book cover to cover. Chants the rhythms without the book around and plays his dad's drums to the beat when I read it! I can't say enough about how fun this book is. To the author, Steve - keep up the great work!!!