Strum and Drum: A Merry Little Quest

by Jashar Awan

Overview

A pair of Christmas tree ornaments set out on the merry adventure of a lifetime in this imaginative picture book about the inner lives of holiday decorations.

All is quiet in the forest as the Great Star rises in the distance, and two little musicians, Strum and Drum, wake up from a deep slumber and set out to make the most joyous music they can! But as Strum strums his guitar and Drum drums her drum on their way to the North, some mysterious obstacles fill their paths . . . flickering lanterns, bubbles of glass, a silver waterfall, a tiny house, dangerous animals . . . and a wooden man with a toothy grin warns them of a beast with green eyes lying in wait. For this is no ordinary forest — it's a Christmas tree, on Christmas Eve, and Strum, Drum and all their new friends are ornaments! But when the green-eyed beast strikes and sends them tumbling out of the “forest,” Strum and Drum’s quest to reach the Great Star seems doomed . . . until a little boy setting out milk and cookies for Santa spots them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735272392
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	10/04/2022
Pages:	56
Sales rank:	119,259
Product dimensions:	9.62(w) x 6.81(h) x 0.45(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

JASHAR AWAN is an author-illustrator. His debut picture book, What a Lucky Day!, met with critical acclaim. His most recent book, Only Ants for Andy, was one of five "Books for Young Children" selected for the 2023 & 2024 Choose to Read Ohio Booklist. Before turning his talents to literature for children, Jashar was a frequent art contributor to The New Yorker, particularly their "Goings On About Town" section. He has also illustrated for the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Wall Street Journal and Dark Horse Comics. In December 2020, he was profiled by Publishers Weekly in their "Fall 2020 Flying Starts" as one of the most promising children's debut authors. A longtime New Yorker, Jashar now lives in Ohio with his wife and son.

Editorial Reviews

09/12/2022

What do Christmas tree ornaments get up to when no one’s looking? In mixed-media artwork resembling cut-paper collage, Awan imagines just that, portraying a dreamy, candy-colored world in which adventure and danger lurk. One silent night, Strum and Drum wake from a deep sleep and, on guitar and drum, begin jamming as they travel “all the way to the Great Star in the north!” Their walk leads them past flickering lanterns, a silver waterfall that doesn’t get them wet, and glass bubbles that don’t pop. Not even a dire warning from a menacing Nutcracker can veer them off the jolly course as their band, portrayed with various skin tones, begins to grow. But when the warned-of beast makes a quick strike, Strum and Drum are flung away from the woods and into a new world—depicted in naturalistic black-and-white art—that will have readers quickly flipping back to the book’s beginning to launch the journey with fresh eyes. Brief text holds readers in suspense until the book delivers its revelatory twist in this festive nested story reminiscent of Pokko and the Drum. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"This clever Christmas tale uses two distinct drawing styles to shift perspective. The surprising ending will have readers returning for a second, or even third, look." —School Library Journal

"[A] dreamy, candy-colored world in which adventure and danger lurk . . . that will have readers quickly flipping back to the book’s beginning to launch the journey with fresh eyes.” —Publishers Weekly

"Awan’s enchanting, stylized illustrations are effectively varied, heightening the little drama. . . . Don’t worry, Strum and Drum reach the Great Star, where they make music from on high." —The Horn Book

"[A] cheerful Christmas tale that will bring a smile to young readers." —Seattle Book Review

From the Publisher

09/01/2022

K-Gr 2—Strum strums his guitar and Drum drums her drum on their journey to the Great Star in the north. Marching along a path illuminated by flickering lights, they leap through a silver waterfall, feast on peppermints and a pickle, and attract followers, including a dancer, an angel, and a polar bear. A soldier with a toothy grin warns of a beast with green eyes, a creature whose sudden appearance curtails their trip. Colorful drawings that look like paper cutouts give way to richly textured black-and-white sketches, including one of a dreaded beast that turns out to be a cat! A young boy scolds his pet before gently placing the two ornaments, Strum and Drum, higher up on the Christmas tree. This plot twist will have readers eagerly flipping back pages to figure out what just happened: Who are these characters? Why is the waterfall silver? What is the source of flickering lights? Most questions are answered, but a small, muted illustration showcasing the entire Christmas tree misses an opportunity to fully wrap up. The book includes some traditional ornaments like a pickle that may be less familiar to children; there is no endnote explaining the symbolism. VERDICT This clever Christmas tale uses two distinct drawing styles to shift perspective. The surprising ending will have readers returning for a second, or even third, look.—Jenny Andrus

School Library Journal