Juba This, Juba That.

Juba This, Juba That

written by Helaine Becker

illustrated by Ron Lightburn

Tundra Books, 2011

978-0-88776-975-7 (hc) $19.99

for Toddler to Kindergarten

Picture Book | Verse | Rhythmic Chants | Carnival

When people were brought to America as slaves from Nigeria, they brought along their hand-clapping patterns and games. These served as an important means of helping to preserve the people's culture through the transformation of the rhythms into work songs. These chants, passed down for generations, are popular today. One of the most popular songs was "Juba dis and Juba dat," in which a yellow cat makes an appearance--as it also does in Helaine Becker's new book.

One magical night, a young boy named Juba "spies a yellow cat" on his windowsill and decides to follow it. The cat leads him to a mysterious nighttime carnival, where the two of them dance, laugh at themselves in the house of mirrors, try their luck with a guessing jar and go on spooky rides. When it's time to go back home, not only has Juba had an amazing adventure but he's also gained a special new friend.

With a strong beat, the words here not only demand to be chanted out loud but also urge our bodies to move in response to their natural rhythm--whether we're stomping or twirling, clapping or patching. Becker also has fun with the use of opposites and prepositions, and children can easily be encouraged to come up with their own rhymes to fit the pattern. Lightburn's illustrations are wonderful, rich and spirited, abounding in mystery and magic. This is a fun and engaging book that is a delight to share with others.

Ken Kilback is a writer and Kindergarten teacher in Vancouver.

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Please note: Some tables or figures were omitted from this article.