The Bourbon Street Band Is Back

by Ed Shankman, Dave O'Neill (Illustrator)

Award-winning author and illustrator duo Ed Shankman and Dave O'Neill turn to the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans, Louisiana! Jazz, of course, is the only truly American form of music, born from a meeting and mixing of cultures where the mighty Mississippi meets the Gulf of Mexico. Drummer Bobcat Bob leads a hot band of multi-cultural musicians, featuring a gator on bass, a finger-snapping frog, and a horn section made up of raccoons, a crayfish, and some loons. Bobcat Bob's band is known for miles around - They played like wind. They played like fire. They raised the roof, and raised it higher. They played all night and weren't done, 'Til morning came and they raised the sun. But one day the music stopped and the great New Orleans lost its voice. Through months of darkness and sadness the people wished that things were like before. And with a single drum beat on Bourbon Street, and then another, and another, the music came back to New Orleans, better than ever! Children and parents alike will love this story about the healing power of music. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 13, 2011

Reviews

[debbicat *made of stardust* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Cute!

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to read, but I'm bothered by the huge gaping plot hole. WHY did Bobcat Bob suddenly stop playing in the first place?

Yes, I know the grown-up reason (Katrina), but no reason is given in the story for the kids at all.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Music rocked out on Bourbon Street with a band led by the Cool Cat. From sun-down to sun-up, the Bourbon Street Band brought the party alive in every way.
Then one day the music stopped and all of New Orleans grew very sad....until a drum beat started up again....

*The funds from the purchase of the book goes to help local musicians.
Ed Shankman, a well-rounded author and guitarist in his own right, gives readers the animal kingdom's toe-tapping, shakeable, dance-able experience with this Zootopia music tribute.

What instruments do you think each of the animals play? It might surprise you.

Enjoy this Southern comfort (and support your own area's small-group or individual musicians)

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

And that's it! My 125th book of the year, challenge complete! (Whew!)

Cute little book about a jazz band of animals in New Orleans. Would have liked a more concrete idea as to why they stop playing in the middle other than just "vibes", but the illustrations were great and spot on for locations in the French District.

[Janice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay rhymes. Blah story. Not Mardi Gras related. (I thought it would be)

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A group of musician animals learns how to get their music back in step after a town goes silent. Elementary and up

[khale! · Rating 4 out of 5]

too much rhyme