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Carnival of the Animals
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Book Overview
But oh what a fabulous night he had had, When his world was turned into a zoo After wandering off from a school field trip, a young boy falls asleep in the Natural History Museum. There he sees his classmates, teachers, and family transformed into a menagerie of animals, from wild hyenas to stately peacocks. John Lithgow's exhilarating word play, inspired by Camille Saint-Sa ns's 1886 composition, provides a narrative arc to the piece for the first time. Lithgow created the text for the New York City Ballet, where the Carnival of the Animals ballet, with his narration, debuted in 2003. Boris Kulikov's witty artistic interpretation of the story adds to the fun. A new recording of Saint-Sa ns's suite, performed by Chamber Music Los Angeles under the direction of Bill Elliott, complete with John Lithgow's recitation of the text, is included on an enclosed CD.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0689867212
ISBN13:9780689867217
Release Date:September 2004
Publisher:Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Length:40 Pages
Weight:1.20 lbs.
Dimensions:0.4" x 11.4" x 9.7"
Age Range:5 to 10 years
Grade Range:Preschool to Grade 5
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
another cherished book by John Lithgow
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
Another book in the collection of John Lithgow's childrens' books. Lovely and witty prose.
Wonderful narration and eye popping illustrations
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
I used this with my kindergarten music class, and they were absolutely enthralled. Even kids who normally weren't on their best behavior were attentive and involved. We laughed hysterically together at the pictures, they were always finding something on the page to talk about. In addition, John Lithgow is a terrific storyteller who really makes the story come alive. During the musical passages woven through the story, I would stop and prompt the children to identify the instruments in the background and have them discuss ways each shows the character - eg. the how the elephant is shown with a slow, heavy tempo with low pitch; or how the wooden bars of the xylophone resonate to sound like the bones of the fossils. I highly recommend this book and cd.
Carnival of the Animals
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
I was a bit skeptical of this book when it was given to my 5-year old at Christmas, but I have to say it won me over. My son really loves it too, and we don't always have the same taste for books, so it's nice that we both enjoy this together. The rhymes are ingenious and the music is lovely. The vocabulary is advanced, but that's part of what makes this book so charming.
what a combination!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
I've always loved this music, especially to help children appreciate classical music. But what a great idea to combine it with clever rhyme and whimsical art! My 6 year-old daughter received it for Christmas and enjoys listening to the CD and following along with the book at bedtime.
Great rhymes, gorgeous illustrations - will age well
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
When looking for presents for our three-year old neighbour, I found this book and was immediately enthralled. The illustrations are gorgeous and the rhymes excellent. Some of the words are a bit too advanced for a three-year old, but when I read it to her the first time, she asked what they meant, so we got to talk about them, which is really good. I believe the book will age well, in that the story, illustrations, and vocabulary are complex enough so in a couple of years it won't be a "baby book", but it also had plenty to keep a three-year old entertained. In fact, she was enthralled. I purchased the book before I realised it was written by THAT John Lithgow, and am really impressed at how multi-talented he is. I will definitely buy more of his books for presents and, as my own young baby gets a little older, really enjoy reading them with her. Well done!
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