The walkabout orchestra by Chloe Perernau
Quarto, 2018. ISBN 9781786030795
The orchestra have an important concert to play - but all the
musicians have gone walkabout! But each has sent a postcard to
the Maestro saying where they are. So the challenge for the reader
is to help him and his faithful assistant find them using the clues
in those postcards.
From Reykjavik to Rio young readers will enjoy this search-and-find
tour of the world that introduces them to the instruments of the
orchestra as they test their powers of observation using the
pictures of each in the introductory pages as a starting point.
With busy pages that test the eye (although not quite as busy as Where's
Wally?) this book encourages readers to examine the details in
things rather than just glancing quickly at them and moving on. To
add to the mix there is a little yellow bird on each double-spread
with his own quest that adds a further challenge. All eventually
come together in a concert hall with some interesting audience
members, and for those who just can't find them, an answer key is
provided.
While this ostensibly introduces children to the instruments of the
orchestra, it works better as a search-and-find book which is much
more fun and informative.
A great addition for those who have pored over Where's Wally
and who are looking for a new challenge in that collaborative
reading activity that is so important to emerging readers,
particularly boys.
Barbara Braxton