Down by the Cool of the Pool - Hardcover

Mitton, Tony

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0439309158 ISBN 13: 9780439309158

Publisher: Orchard Books, 2002

Synopsis

From the creators of Giraffes Can't Dance, Down By the Cool of the Pool is a sure-fire hit with fun, rhyming text, and zany illustrations.

There's flipping and flopping, splishing and splashing, wiggling and waggling down by the cool of the pool. Frog, Duck, Horse, Pig, and the rest of the gang dance and sing their way through this wacky, watery wonderful story told with a catchy rhyming text and bold, vibrant illustrations. The fun is positively infectious, and you just may find yourself dancing and singing along with Frog and his frolicking friends. Children will delight in this rollicking farmyard romp, an adventure in musical activity--perfect for the nonstop toddler.

About this title

About the Author

Tony Mitton has written many wonderful books for children, including DINOSAURUMPUS!, DOWN BY THE COOL OF THE POOL, SPOOKY HOUR, FARMER JOE AND THE MUSIC SHOW, and ALL AFLOAT ON NOAH'S BOAT, all published by Orchard Books, as well as PLUM, published by Arthur A. Levine Books. Mr. Mitton lives in Cambridge, England, with his wife and two children.

Guy Parker-Rees has illustrated many bestselling Orchard books, including K IS FOR KISSING A COOL KANGAROO and THE CHIMPANZEES OF HAPPYTOWN by Giles Andreae; DOWN BY THE COOL OF THE POOL, DINOSAURUMPUS!, and ALL AFLOAT ON NOAH'S BOAT by Tony Mitton; QUIET! by Paul Bright; and THE HIPPO-NOT-AMUS by Tony and Jan Payne. He lives in Brighton, England.

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 2-Down by the cool of the pool, Frog cries, "Wheeeee! Can you dance like me?" This is the invitation for a lively day by the water. Joining Frog are Duck, Pig, Sheep, Cat, Dog, Goat, Pony, Donkey, and Cow, all cavorting around the pond and each doing its own dance. This frolicking mass of animals eventually tumbles into the water with a mighty splash. Are they upset? No, they just turn the soaking into a party. This is an enjoyable summertime book, packed with delightful inhabitants and bright, energetic colors. Parker-Rees's spreads radiate the yellow heat of the sun, while the one picture with all the critters in the pool is done in a cooling blue. The often-alliterative descriptions of the animals sound wonderful, but can trip the unpracticed tongue. The rhyme and illustrations combine so joyfully that storytime listeners will want to get up and dance, too.
Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The sun may be setting, but the wackiness is escalating on the shores of the farm pond. "Wheeeee!" proclaims a wide-eyed frog as it jet‚s into the air, "Can you dance like me?" A duck, a pig and a sheep are the first animals to rise to the challenge, and Mitton (Busy Boats), building up the momentum, begins by patterning their respective responses in cumulative verse. As more and more critters join in, each proud of its own inimitable style ("Playful Pony began to prance. Donkey drummed his hoofbeat dance"), Mitton shifts the narrative's structure to move the action resolutely forward toward a literally splashy climax, in which everyone falls in the water. Parker-Rees (Giraffes Can't Dance) ratchets up the goofiness of his kinetic watercolor cartoons by giving his animal stars the arm and leg extensions of ballerinas but the bodies of couch potatoes; their faces radiate an infectious silliness. The typography, too, enters into the spirit by shimmying and bouncing through the full-bleed spreads. Kids will likely want to dance or chant along; fortunately, the author and artist wind down the energy as effectively as they turn it up. Ages 2-5.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Orchard Books
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0439309158
• ISBN 13: 9780439309158
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Parker-Rees Guy
• Number of pages: 32