Victor Vito And Freddie Vasco - Softcover

Berkner, Laurie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0439915295 ISBN 13: 9780439915298

Publisher: Cartwheel Books, 2007

Synopsis

If Laurie Berkner is a rock star for kids, "Victor Vito" is her anthem! Packaged with a CD single of this huge hit song, the book, hilariously illustrated by Henry Cole, is now in paperback!

Victor Vito and Freddie Vasco leave their failed Klondike Cafe in search of zesty new foods from around the 50 states. Along the way, they stop in New Mexico for burritos, South Carolina for rutabagas and collard greens, and NYC's Little Italy for the spaghetti that made this song famous!

Kids can now sing the words to their favorite Berkner hit as the lyrics pop off the pages and come to life in the hilarious illustrations of Henry Cole.

About this title

Review

Right up front we'll say that the song "Victor Vito" is a much better song than it is a story. However, if you read the book while listening to the CD, you'll have a fun (and nonsensical) illustrated-song experience. Fortunately, the CD is included in the back, and features the songs "Victor Vito" and the catchy "Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)," both written and performed by Berkner. Plus, the music to "Victor Vito" (with all four verses) is printed in the back for those wanting to create a festive and musical story hour.

The book begins with a letter from polar bears Victor and Freddie, owners of Alaska's Klondike Café, announcing to the seal-waitresses and walrus-cooks that they are embarking on a cross-America road trip to discover new, not-so-fishy taste treats. In New Mexico, they eat a burrito with Tabasco: "They put it on their rice, they put it on their beans." In Louisiana, they put it "on their rutabagas, and on their collard greens." In New York City, a squirrel maitre d' suggests, "Hey VICTOR! Hey Freddie! Let's eat some spaghetti." They do... with Tabasco. When Victor and Freddie finally get home, everyone is excited to eat spaghetti instead of the usual Klondike Café fish. Henry Cole's wonderful depictions of polar bears on their culinary quest are as silly and lively as Berkner's song. (Preschool and older) --Karin Snelson

From the Publisher

Laurie's Today Show performance had kids and their parents dancing in the plaza!

She was recently named the "in" performer by Entertainment Weekly.

Rave reviews for Laurie appeared in The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, People, and US Weekly.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cartwheel Books
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0439915295
• ISBN 13: 9780439915298
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Cole Henry