Sing

Customers are eager to buy Henrietta and George's beautiful vegetables, but are frightened away by Henrietta's terrible singing. Then Henrietta and George find out the plants thrive only when Henrietta sings.

PreSchool-Grade 3. When long-time gardening buddies Henrietta and George agree on a joint venture to grow and sell vegetables, a problem arises. Henrietta sings to her produce: "My Daddy always said, 'Plants like a good song.'" Unfortunately, whenever she belts out a tune, little critters head for their holes or hunker down in their nests. George tolerates Henrietta's shrieking because the garden thrives. However, vegetable-stand patrons are scared off by her "earsplitting melody." When George explains, she sadly agrees to stop singing. Business booms for a while, but Henrietta is miserable, the garden no longer thrives, and the friends eventually close up shop. One starry night, Henrietta forgets her promise and quietly sings "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." George notices the corn responding and encourages her to continue. Once again the garden blossoms and so does business, once George offers free earplugs with every purchase. Brightly colored cartoons, rendered in watercolor gouache and colored pencil, bring the story to life. Careful inspection yields joyful (or sad) vegetable "faces" and little creatures scampering across the pages. A wonderful read-aloud choice.?Susan Garland, Maynard Public Library, MA
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