Rufus and Friends: Rhyme Time

by Iza Trapani, Iza Trapani (Illustrator)

Overview

Join Rufus and his motley canine crew on opening night as they act out fourteen silly, tongue-twisting nursery rhymes. Giggle as Stella plays Wild Wilma Winkles and hula hoops the night away; laugh as Mops acts out frazzled, flustered Dr. Foster's fight against the flu; and hoot as Rufus hilariously hams it up as Handy Spandy, Jack-a-dandy.

Best-selling author/illustrator Iza Trapani has extended each poem, playing with the sounds and rhythms that make language so much fun for young readers and help to build phonemic awareness. Children will also love looking on each page for hidden pictures that begin with the featured letter from the alliterative poems.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580892070
Publisher:	Charlesbridge
Publication date:	07/01/2008
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	959,712
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.14(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Iza Trapani is the best-selling author/illustrator of several children's books, including TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR, I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT, THE ITSY BITSY SPIDER, and RUFUS AND FRIENDS: RHYME TIME. She lives in the Hudson Valley of New York.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-K

A prolific author presents 14 extended poems, many of them fun tongue twisters. Rufus, a dog, introduces his canine friends Lulu, Tucker, Stella, and Mops; dressed in colorful costumes, the pups act out familiar rhymes as if they were onstage. On the final page, Rufus asks readers to go back to the beginning to look for objects hidden within the illustrations. For example, in "Betty Botter," five cleverly disguised items begin with the letter "B"-a balloon, bone, boot, butterfly, and button. The lively artwork was created using watercolor, ink, and colored pencils. Each actor/pooch is a different breed; they all have priceless facial expressions and vary with the situations. Children will ask for repeated readings as they search for the pictures again and again.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

School Library Journal

Trapani continues her trademark extensions of beloved nursery tales and songs with this latest, a collection of 14 tongue tanglers. Beginning with the traditional Mother Goose stanzas, Trapani then goes on to add at least one more in the same rhyme and rhythm pattern, seamlessly continuing the story. Dr. Foster's unfortunate trip to Gloucester ends this way: "Docter Foster, frazzled, flustered, / In a flutter flew. / The spill caused a chill, / And the doctor fell ill / With a fever and flu-achoo!" The stand-outs among the lesser-known rhymes include "Cackle, Cackle Mother Goose," about a goose with only enough loose feathers to stuff half a pillow, and "Fiddle Dee Dee," about the marriage of the fly to the bumblebee. A cast of five wonderfully expressive dogs, including the titular Rufus, act out the humorous rhymes. The illustrations are filled with details, including hidden pictures that readers can search for; a list is in the back. Trapani is a staple for young children-don't miss this one. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews