ALA Booklist (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

An amiable farmer with a yen for music, Chuck drives his truck into town to buy a banjo for himself and a mandolin for his goat, Flo. When the other animals hear them playing, they want to join in. So they all pile into the pickup for another trip to the music store, adding some homemade instruments, and round out the band with new sounds. In the comical ending, Fat Cat Pat refuses all offers of instruments and holds out for something that suits her better. The short, rhyming phrases of the text roll along in a pleasing way, but the cheerful illustrations really bring this picture book to life. Bold lines, bright colors, and crayon textures come together to create scenes that are vivid and easy for young children to read. From the writer/illustrator of Chuck's Truck (2006), this pleasing picture book would make a good intro to musical activities for young children.

Horn Book (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

In Chuck's second outing (Chuck's Truck), the focus is on the band that accumulates as, one by one, the farm animals join in. Farmer Chuck starts it off with his new banjo; soon there are ten cheerfully raucous players. Once again the comical art and rhythmic text will keep the youngest chuckling, while the entertaining rhymes are great for new readers.

Kirkus Reviews (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

<p>While cogitating in his rocking chair, green cat resting at his feet, Farmer Chuck gets a notion and goes into town to Ariel's Music Store. He buys a banjo for himself and a mandolin for goat Flo. Once they start playing, other farm animals run to join in, starting with dogs Nip and Tuck (on harmonica and guitar, respectively). The big cow Lou joins in on the washtub, and sow Sue adds a mean fiddle. Chuck goes back to town for more instruments, adding a bass violin for Huck the workhorse and a washboard for Luck the duck. The chicken and Buck the mule add vocals. Poor Fat Cat Pat feels left out. Chuck takes her to town, where he buys the cat a pair of earmuffs, perfect for sitting at her master's feet as the band plays on. Bright acrylics, a cleverly rollicking text and the introduction of many farm animals and instruments nudge this above average. (Picture book. 3-6)</p>

School Library Journal (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

PreS-K A simple rhyming tale of latent musical talent let loose. Each barnyard animalexcept a green catfinds its instrument and joins the hoedown. A large red hound strums a guitar as a small white Terrier blows on a harmonica. A duck pecks on a washboard, and a donkey taps on a bucket. Drawn in bright crayon, the characters are complemented by the green grass, a blue acrylic sky, and the outline of the yellow farmhouse. One page reads, "Tuck plays the guitar/strum, strum,/strum! Nip plays harmonicahum,/hum, hum!" To the right of the spread a spotted cow and pink pig seem to be repressing a jig ("The big cow Lou and the/little sow Sue wanted to/make some/music, too"). Emerging readers will find the large print accessible as well as the mirroring relationship between text and illustration. Preschoolers will delight in this read-aloud that has much potential for participationspoons, knee slapping, and clapping. One caution: the foot-stompin' rhythm may leave some adults with a fiddle sound reeling through their heads. Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti Montessori Magnet School, Springfield, MA