Hatberry
Shoeberry
In my canoebery
Under the bridge
And over the dam
Looking for berries
Berries for jam
They're off...
a boy and an endearing, rhyme-spouting bear, who squires him through a fatastic world of berries. And their adventure comes to a razzamatazz finale under a starberry sky.
Children will want to feast again and again on Bruce Degen's exuberant, colorful pictures and his rollicking berryful rhymes.
Hat and boot in hand, a boy and a bear set off on a delicious and raucous romp through Berryland. They frolic in strawberry fields forever, rumble and ramble in blackberry brambles, and topple their canoeberry with blueberries. Silly rhymes and a musical beat practically beg to be read aloud, preferably accompanied by dancing. New readers will giggle as they follow the fruit-frenzied pals on their berry adventures.
Jamberry builds quickly in intensity and complexity, starting with "One berry, Two berry, Pick me a blueberry," and working up to "Raspberry, Jazzberry, Razzmatazzberry, Berryband, Merryband, Jamming in Berryland." Children will love discovering the subtle touches in Bruce Degen's illustrations: a frog climbing out of a hat, crackers and butter instead of lily pads, and a sign by the raspberry skating rink imploring skaters not to pick the jelly rolls planted nearby. Every character seems giddy with well-fed joy in this veritable jamboree of flavorful fun.
Jamberry is a book best enjoyed on a gloomy day with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. (Baby to Preschool)
--Emilie Coulter
