This is #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long's hilarious interpretation of the tongue twister popularized by Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine in 1951, "There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea."
While the two versions of the tongue twister are similar in some ways, they are very different in others.
If you know the original song, it will help you read this book quickly and to the tune of the song. If you don’t know the song, the repetitive parts may seem strange at first. In fact, it may seem strange the whole way through until you get to the last page and see the sheet music and the lyrics for each verse of Long’s version of the song.
Long having put the sheet music and the lyrics to each verse in the back of the book, it helps to increase the re-readbility of this book. And the second time through, readers have more fun as they now understand that there is a beat to follow while reading. Or they could just sing the lyrics of each verse given on the last page. Either way, the sheet music in the back gives this book more layers and gives the buyer of this book more bang for their buck!
While the words in the story vary wildly from the original lyrics of the song, “There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea,” it is able to pay tribute to the original while still being its own thing.
I found this book very enjoyable, especially the second time through. I had totally forgotten about the original song and did not read it to any tune. I would read a little of the main text and then scan the page and read the additional text of the story happening in the background.
While speaking of the multi-layered approach of this book, Long was able to not just present the reader with a story loosely based off an old song from the 1950s, provide you with new lyrics to the old tune, but she has also provided the reader with a secondary type of story happening in the background between a turtle and snail.
While the main story is unfolding via illustrations matching the song lyrics, there is a small turtle and snail commenting on the goings-on of the song that is being read by the reader. The comments are hilarious. They were saying exactly what I was thinking about the lyrics!
This book is so much fun on so many levels! If you haven’t had a chance to read this book, I suggest you grab a copy today and get in on the fun. You won’t regret it.
Young readers between the ages of 4 and 8 will have a great time with this book. To be honest, I think anyone will have a great time with this book. I know I did.
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