There's A What, Where?

There is nothing quite like hearing a group of children singing and humming a melody as they leave the library.  It all begins in story time but the memory of a tale well-told lingers for days, weeks, and yes, sometimes years.  When a song is attached to a narrative it enables the listeners to recall all the details with clarity, note by note.

If another story, additional commentary, is added to the narrative of the tune along with charming and humorous illustrations, you are holding a read aloud treasure in your hands.  Illustrated and adapted by author illustrator Loren Long, There's A Hole In The Log On The Bottom Of The Lake (Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, September 25, 2018) is a toe-tapping, hand-clapping, knee-slapping and laugh-out-loud rendition.  It's joy you'll want to share as often as possible.

"Do you hear voices?"

THERE'S A LOG ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE.
THERE'S A LOG ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE.

A turtle and his companion, a snail, offer observations as the melodic poem unfolds.  This particular log at the bottom of the lake is not whole but has a hole at either end and one right in the middle.  As the snail attempts to right the turtle after an unfortunate tumble, a frog pops up through the hole.

A school of small fish swim near the duo prompting the turtle to hurry and join them.  As the group switches directions, the song notes there is a hair on the top of the frog's head.  (Have you ever seen a hair on a frog?)  It now seems a fly has landed on that hair.  (Is this fly minus the intelligence to survive?  Does it know what frogs eat?)

Just when you think the verses can't get crazier, a gnat lands on the fly.  The frog is directing all its attention on the bugs.  The laws of nature dictate this is never a wise choice.

Another resident of the lake glides into the scene unseen.  Suddenly, those who can scatter in a cloud of stirred-up sand.   There's a . . .


As soon as the familiar text in the song appears, Loren Long skillfully starts to add the remarks of the turtle.  They provide a comical contrast to the traditional tune.  They also add another layer to the narrative leading us to the startling original surprise at the end of the song.  Here is another verse with the turtle's accompanying dialogue.

THERE'S A GNAT ON THE FLY ON THE HAIR
ON THE FROG IN THE HOLE IN THE LOG
ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE.

"Ugh, now his bug has bugs?"


As soon as you see the frog (on the opened and matching dust jacket and book case) peeking out of the hole in the log at the school of tiny fish swimming overhead, you know this book is going to be a whole lot of fun.  The eyes and slight smile on the frog are loaded with anticipation.  The deep shades of brown, green and blue replicate the underwater view in a lake with excellence.  The light shining on the log, the frog and shimmering on the fish is rays from the sun.  Certain words on the front of the dust jacket are varnished.

To the left, on the back, the image continues over the spine to the far edge.  A large stone or stump extends at an angle along the left side.  On the opening and closing endpapers, Loren has sketched and placed twenty small illustrations of the turtle and snail in various poses in shades of gray on a pale peach canvas.  They are all precious, simply precious.

On the verso and title pages Loren gives us a hint of how the log with the hole lands at the bottom of the lake.  Each of the following double-page pictures, rendered in acrylic and colored pencils, shifts the point of view according to the song and the placement of the turtle and snail.  These alterations give emphasis to the words in the song, the secondary declarations and the slight tension building toward the conclusion.  (It's guaranteed you'll burst out laughing at the final illustration.)

Each of the details in the visuals adds to the hilarity.  The positions and facial expressions on the turtle and snail along with the frog, fly and gnat are sure to bring on the giggles.  The single curly hair and the frog's feet are funnier than funny.

One of my many favorite illustrations is when the frog's head is sticking out of the hole.  His eyes are looking up at the single hair on his head; as if he can't figure out how it got there.  Two of the tiny fish are looking at it.  This portion of the picture is on the right side.  To the left the turtle and snail are floating.  The remainder of the school of fish are swimming off the page to the left.  The expression on the frog's face is hilarious!  The turtle's look is one of shock.


As has been said frequently, there is far too little laughter in our world.  We need it daily.  If you want happy readers, There's A Hole In The Log On The Bottom Of The Lake adapted and illustrated by Loren Long is a surefire hit.  With every verse you will be struggling to keep your tongue from twisting which adds to the total merriment.  You'll probably want to get out your box of instruments to hand out to the children or if this is a read aloud for one or two, start strumming on your preferred string instrument or like turtle, you might want to start guitar lessons.  You will certainly want to add this to your professional and personal collections.

To learn more about Loren Long and his other marvelous work, please visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  Loren maintains accounts on Twitter and Instagram.  At the publisher's website you can view the endpapers.  Enjoy this video with Loren Long singing portions of the song.

Celebrate Country!

Never underestimate the power of music.  Add a tune to a message, it is more likely to be remembered.  Reading the words or singing the words can make all the difference.

Distinctively American is country music, rooted in the rural South and cowboy life of the West.  Whether it's slow, fast, sad or happy, telling a story or expressing a mood, country music gets to the heart of the matter.  Frog Trouble and Eleven Other Pretty Serious Songs (Workman Publishing) is a collection of twelve songs written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton with her signature wit and characters.  In this production she again teams with Michael Ford; the duo having earned three Gold Records and a Grammy nomination.

Satisfaction guaranteed with a dog named Hank, a tribute to trucks, and a frog stampede, which may or may not be real, get toes tapping, fingers snapping and hands clapping.  A lament about room cleaning, putting away toys, taking baths and going to bed, woeful words to say the least, follows next.  Daring to dream, discovering a gift and trying not to go crazy when three friends are doing everything to make it so, keep the energy going.

Sometimes you stay outside as long as you can, but sharing the sound of falling rain, the rumbling of thunder and the flash of lightning, inside and cozy with a friend makes a storm as bright as a sunny summer day.  Get ready to groove and move to a reptile ramble, sigh at the wonder felt by a parent for a child and visualize the shades of love.  Believe it or not...it's...no...it can't be...those amphibian tricksters are back.

Readers are treated to songs with the following titles:

• I've Got a Dog
• Trucks
• Frog Trouble
• Heartache Song
• When Pigs Fly
• Broken Piano
• Copycat
• End of a Summer Storm
• Alligator Stroll
• Beautiful Baby
• Deepest Blue
• More Frog Trouble

An impressive array of singers give voice to these tunes, Dwight Yoakam, Fountains of Wayne, Mark Lanegan, Kacey Musgraves, Ryan Adams, Ben Folds, Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss, Josh Turner, Darius Rucker, Linda Eder and Falls Mountain Cowboys.

The book is divided into three sections: Look While You Listen, Sing & Play Along and Meet The Performers.   Each song is showcased with at least a full page illustration on the left with partial lyrics on the right.  A frog in the lower right-hand corner directs readers to a page containing the remaining lyrics and music.  Adding to the overall fun are four extra elements:  How To Do The Alligator Stroll, Good Names for Dogs, Horses, 'Gators & Frogs, How To Talk Like A Cowboy and How to Make A Folded-Paper Frog Puppet.  


Even without the musical score Sandra Boynton's words kindle a desire to hum a melody or finger tap the beat.  As inviting as a winding country road her rhymes twist, turn and flow straight to each reader's rhythmic soul.  Infused with humor, warmth, a zest for life and love, these descriptive songs are country to the core.

Frogs in cowboy hats, a pig running with a guitar, sitting on a crescent moon or driving a pickup truck, a sweet old mutt, a winsome bunny, instrumental crazy cats, piano and fiddle playing tigers, bears watching the rain fall, a sunglasses-wearing alligator (and a chicken, too), a lion with his cub, a chorus of animal cowpokes and lots more frogs illustrate the book with comfort and comedy.  No one can mistake the style, color, liveliness and expressive pictures of Sandra Boynton; it's in the eyes and mouths.  Special details like the license plate on a truck (PYG-48), a rabbit with bunny slippers, a bear cub jumping in a puddle after a rain or an alligator's shadow as it crosses the top of a musical score, elevate this title to excellence.

The vocalists and musicians chosen to sing Boynton's songs (all lyrics written by her, all the music too except for six shared with Michael Ford) will have listeners playing the CD over and over.   The tunes are the kind that linger; catchy, soothing, soulful or energizing by turns.  You'll want to dig your guitar out of the closet or head to the nearest music store to purchase your own harmonica.

Frog Trouble and Eleven Other Pretty Serious Songs (For Ages One To Older Than Dirt) written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton, with music by Sandra Boynton and Michael Ford, is destined to be a country classic for the younger crowd.  It's so much fun though, as the cover suggests, anyone will enjoy listening to the music and reading along with the book.  It's a win, a surefire grin.

Follow the link embedded in Sandra Boynton's name above to her website.  The book and album have their own website, too, linked to the title above.  This site has portions of all the songs for your listening pleasure.  Enjoy the videos below.