Dog Band
Regan W.H. Macaulay (author) Wei Lu (illustrator)
Iguana Books (2021)
ISBN 9781771814752
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views Kids (10/2021)
“Dog Band” by Regan W.H. Macaulay is a melodious introduction to the world of music for young readers.
Alfie is a Maltipoo who knows what he wants. As a guitar player and singer, his greatest dream is to have his own band. Alfie forms that band with his best friends: Raxl the Chihuahua, Tubby the Morkie, and Ollie the Coton de Tulear. Each friend has a special talent uniquely suited for the band, but there’s one big issue they need to resolve before they start band practice—what kind of music shall they play?
When the band asks their friends for suggestions, they discover a vast array of different styles and types of music. From Country to Opera to Rock ‘n Roll to Classical music, the band learns their options are just about limitless. It’s a fantastic launch into the world of music for little ones and full of noteworthy tidbits for adults. I even learned the difference between ‘Rock’ and ‘Rock and Roll!’ Who knew?
The ending might surprise readers as they scurry to figure out just what type of music the Dog Band will play. I wasn’t expecting the way it wraps up, but it leaves the door open for young musical enthusiasts to form their own opinion about what type of music they might like to play if they were to form their own band!
“Dog Band” is an adorable story that will appeal to dog and music lovers young and not so young. Elements of working together to make informative decisions, teamwork, inclusivity and cooperation make “Dog Band” so much more than merely an entertaining story. Precious illustrations infuse each page, creating a colorful backdrop for the narrative. As a music and dog lover, Macaulay incorporates the best of both worlds into an entertaining, informative and creative story.
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