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Summary
Summary
In this early chapter book in the popular Confetti Kids series, Henry tries to find a place where he can practice his drums without disturbing his mom.
Henry dreams of becoming a rock star drummer and practices at home whenever he can. One day while Henry is drumming, his mom has to work, and asks him to stop playing. Henry decides to go outside to play his drum and he sees his friends. Henry wants to keep practicing, but he also wants to play with his friends. By playing Freeze Dance, he can do both. And when his mother finishes work that evening, they figure out how to enjoy music together too.
Author Notes
Gwendolyn Hooks is the author of Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas , which received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children. Thanks to her Air Force dad, she grew up in Texas and Washington in the United States, and in Italy. After teaching middle school math, Hooks decided to follow her passion and write books for children. Hooks lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband. Please visit her website at www.gwendolynhooks.com.
Shirley Ng-Benitez is a Bay Area children's book author/illustrator who has illustrated 35+ children's books, and has a background in Graphic Design (GabbyandCo.com), and hand-lettering (American Greetings, Inc.). She works and experiments in traditional mediums including watercolor, gouache, pen&ink, oils, and painted & cut-paper collage. Her work draws from a deep wish to add more compassion and connection in the world through her art and stories. She founded @AWEtober on Instagram, an annual art auction fundraiser since '20, whose efforts have raised tens of thousands for various organizations supporting victims of the California wildfires, and efforts in coral reef restoration around the globe. She lives with her family and two black cats, and is thrilled to be working on her debut picture book, DOWN, THROUGH, UP by Quill Tree Books, Winter '25. Please visit shirleyngbenitez.com for more.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Henry loves playing his drums loudly like a rock star, but his mom has work to do and would really prefer some quiet. So Henry takes his old drum to play outside, where his friends are jumping rope. Soon everyone is having a great time playing freeze dance together. Later that evening, Henry's mom finishes her work and invites Henry to join her in silly dancing until bedtime. This emergent reader is broken up into three short chapters with high frequency words and familiar vocabulary. The illustrations depict a variety of diverse kids with cheery faces. The story concludes with instructions for readers to make their own drum. VERDICT This is a joyous ode to unplugged entertainment and everyday life. Recommended for libraries looking for additional beginning-to-read books.-Jessica Marie, Salem Public Library, OR © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Set in the diverse urban neighborhood introduced by Paula Yoo and Ng-Benitez in Lily's New Home and Want to Play (both 2016), this newest entry focuses on Henry, a would-be rock-star drummer. Henry's mother needs quiet to work, so Henry takes a single drum to the front stoop. An intentionally diverse cast of characters stop playing jump rope to freeze dance. Henry is white. Lily is dark-skinned with curly hair. Mei's, Padma's, and Pablo's names suggest ethnically diverse backgrounds; all have light-brown skin and dark hair, and Pablo wears glasses. Repeating the same few words guarantees success for new readers. Uncluttered layout and a sans-serif typeface also help, while digitally enhanced watercolor illustrations provide context clues. Each of the three brief chapters can stand on its own, though they also form a cohesive if simple story arc when read in one sitting. Henry seems unrealistically willing to adjust his behavior so as to not disturb his mother; his mother is all too happy to break into dance when her work is complete. In the simultaneously publishing Block Party, Padma is embarrassed when her mother brings Indian lentil soup to the neighborhood festivities. But her friends seem to like it, so Padma decides she can be proud of the soup and of her heritage. Each book closes with an "extra": instructions to make a homemade drum in Music Time, and a recipe for lentil curry soup in Block Party. An earnest and conscientious effort to add diversity to new readers' choices. (Early reader. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
This title, coded for emergent readers, is part of the Dive into Reading line of early chapter books, and features a smiling group of racially diverse, neighborhood friends. Henry dreams of being a rock star, but practicing his drums in the apartment disturbs his mother as she tries to work. So he goes outside, where he plays lively rhythms to which his friends dance in a game of freeze dance. Later, when she's finished her work, Henry and his mom dance in the living room until it is time for bed. This is a sweet, simple story of an ordinary day that needs no adornment. Ng-Benitez's watercolor illustrations bring it to life with expression, color, and movement. Instructions for how to make your own drum will be a big hit, too.--Chaudhri, Amina Copyright 2017 Booklist
