Sipping Spiders Through a Straw: Campfire Songs for Monsters
Grade 2–4—Eighteen classic songs have been transformed here into versions that range from the silly to the slightly disgusting to the extremely gross. Such titles as "Take Me Out to the Graveyard," "Creepy, Creepy Little Jar," and "If You're Scary and You Know It, Clap Your Paws" are accompanied by watercolor and mixed-media illustrations, mainly in earth tones, that make the words seem even more revolting. Sung to the tune of "Oh My Darling, Clementine," "My Delicious Frankenstein" has lyrics like, "Oh, my crispy. Oh, my crunchy./Oh, my frosted Frankenstein./You're so yummy…in my tummy…/My delicious Frankenstein." The song is illustrated with a downtrodden-looking monster, complete with whipped cream and a cherry atop his head. He's portrayed against a red-and-white-check tablecloth and opposite a woman licking her lips and brandishing a carving knife and fork. Children will recognize all the songs parodied here, making them easy to sing. These selections may not have quite the inventiveness or creativity of some of Alan Katz and David Catrow's collections, notablyWhere Did They Hide My Presents?(S & S, 2005), but they certainly have appeal.—Jane Marino, Bronxville Public Library, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.