PreS-K-A lively group of multicultural children and their adults stream into a brick building for a music class. Their guitar-strumming instructor sits on the floor, welcomes each by name, and sings out different activities including egg shakers, kicking feet, and various rhythm instruments. One boy is initially leery, by soon joins in the fun. Although this is based on Weinstone's franchise "Music for Aardvarks," this could be a scene from a public library program. Children will ask for repeated readings to catch all of the action in Vogel's boldly colored, expressive illustrations. This serves as an engaging model for a group activity along the lines of Anna McQuinn's Leo Loves Baby Time (Charlesbridge, 2014) and Julia Durango's rollicking Cha-Cha Chimps (S. & S., 2006). VERDICT A welcome addition to picture book collections.-Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Weinstone collaborates with Brazilian artist Vogel to produce a clever adaptation of the wildly popular interactive Music for Aardvarks program. Featuring his song Music Class Today, Weinstone zeroes in on a little boy's first encounter with a music class. His hesitancy to get involved in the activities keeps him near his mother while he intently observes the other children dancing and playing instruments along with the guitar-strumming and singing instructor. Yet the lively lyrics and the children's enthusiastic interactions are so inviting that the little boy ultimately joins in with the others. Vogel complements Weinstone's lyrical text with colorful childlike caricatures that capture the magical and welcoming effects of music not only upon the diverse group of children but also upon one child's inhibitions. Included in Weinstone's debut are full lyrics, a guitar chart, and a website where readers can download his song for free, as well as additional hands-on musical activities. Whether read aloud or as a sing-along, this heartening, playful story is a great addition to music collections for home, school, or library programs.--Lock, Anita Copyright 2015 Booklist

"Shake your eggs high! Shake your eggs low!" Sound familiar? You've been to those neighborhood classes that introduce many toddlers (and parents) to music - and organized learning. But as Weinstone, the former punk rocker behind the popular Music for Aardvarks program, knows, not every child jumps right in. As the others rock out with their bearded teacher, one little guy needs time. By the end of this friendly, stylishly illustrated rhyme-fest, he's got the beat and hates to say goodbye. MAPLE & WILLOW APART Written and illustrated by Lori Nichols. 32 pp. Nancy Paulsen. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 2 to 6) It's a moment of hard truth every younger sibling faces: Maple is off to kindergarten, while Willow's routine stays the same. In the latest in this utterly charming series about two tree-loving sisters, Maple compounds the injury by coming home each day and gabbing endlessly about the exciting goings-on at school. Luckily, Willow finds a magical new friend, Pip, who sometimes seems like a plain old acorn. Nichols's touch is light and deft as ever as playing with Pip brings the girls together again. DAD'S FIRST DAY Written and illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. 32 pp. Bloomsbury. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 6) Wohnoutka's back-to-school story mines the helicopter parenting phenomenon for big laughs, even for those who may cringe in recognition. After Oliver and his father spend a summer doing everything together, it's Dad who's reluctant to face the first day of school. "My tummy hurts," he says, then dawdles and hides as Oliver worries about being late. "You're probably going to really miss me when you're at school," Dad says in the car, to which the smiling child replies, deadpan, "Sure, Daddy." MONKEY: Not Ready for Kindergarten Written and illustrated by Marc Brown. 32 pp. Knopf. $12.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 6) Poor Monkey is not convinced by all the enthusiasm for his first day of kindergarten. He has a list of what might go wrong, like "What if his teacher doesn't like him?" A play date with future classmates and an arranged secret goodbye handshake with his parents pay off as he enters the classroom smiling. Brown patiently covers the fear-of-school bases, and his soft, child-like art, which evokes an improbably skillful grade-schooler's crayon work, helps put us inside Monkey's point of view. IF YOU EVER WANT TO BRING AN ALLIGATOR TO SCHOOL, DON'T! Written and illustrated by Elise Parsley. 32 pp. Little, Brown. $17. (Picture book; ages 4 to 7) This debut introduces Magnolia, who has a choppy black haircut and a mouth often wide open in a yelp. She has some hard-won advice: Alligators are not advisable in school. Hers caused a heap of disaster, with enormous webs of chewing gum, origami everywhere and a mean-looking gray-haired teacher dispensing punishment. Some adults may find it too familiar, but children are likely to get a kick out of Magnolia's not-quite-contrite tone and the colorful chaos her giant pet creates. ONLINE An expanded visual presentation of this week's column at nytimes.com/books.

A young boy is hesitant to join in doing music class. The hipster teacher (who sports an impressive mustache) grabs his guitar and begins to sing. Everyone perks up and is ready to move. Everyone, that is, except the one youngster who would rather sit and watch than sing and dance. He clutches his toy frog (and his mother) even tighter than before. The teacher belts out his repeating refrain: "That's all right, there's no rush. / Whenever you're ready, come play with us!" All kinds of music-class accoutrement are brought out: shakers, scarves, rhythm sticks, and instruments. With each one, the boy becomes more and more curious (and brave). Predictably, he ends up leaping in and never wanting to leave. Weinstone, the founder of Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammalsan interactive music class that began in New York Citycertainly knows what makes a class tick (or rock). The children in the class are wonderfully diverse, though the protagonist is Caucasian, and Vogel either attended a music class or received copious notes because the mannerisms of the kids are spot-on. They chew on scarves, lose their instruments, kick their shoes across the room, and otherwise make mayhem. The rhymes can seem syrupy and simple, but listen to Weinstone sing the song (available for download from the publisher). It will become addictive. Reassurance for wallflowers everywhere. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Jaunty rhymes describe toddlers twirling and bouncing, tapping and shaking their rhythm instruments in a music class led by a lively, guitar-playing male music teacher. One little guy isn't sure he wants to participate, but by the end of the class everyone is having a ball. Colorful cartoons feature an eclectic group of tots and parents. The related song can be downloaded. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.