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There are a lot of ABC books from which to choose. This one focuses on using original lyrics from the alphabet song to explore jug band music. Most of the lyrics focus on the instruments used in this genre of music, although there are a few exceptions, including a pirate and a question. Each letter gets its own page, rhyme, and full-color illustration. The book also includes a brief description of what jug band music is and when it came to prominence. Overall, with the bright graphics and simple, recognizable rhyme scheme, the book is upbeat in tone and suited for even the youngest readers.
Cochneuer is clearly passionate about his subject material. Children picking up this book will find themselves learning a little about this kind of music in a format that will be familiar to them. The pictures primarily consist of stock images but serve their purpose well. The text itself is easy to read and gets its points across clearly. This book would be a good addition to the bookshelf of an elementary music teacher and serve as a unique reference source when discussing different types of music. A teacher might even challenge slightly older students to use it as a blueprint to write their own ABC story based on a different style of music. Musically oriented parents might also see this as a fun way to teach their children the alphabet. Overall, it is an accessible tool that almost anyone can use to introduce jug band music to young children.