First Notes of Spring - by Jessica Kulekjian (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Not Quite Narwhal meets ----And Then It's Spring in this funny, charming picture book debut about marching to the beat of your own drum to create a song that wakes Spring.

Juniper can't wait to audition for the First Notes of Spring, the orchestra that melts away winter and wakes up spring with its melodies. With her strong sticks, thumpity toadstool, and rowdy rhythms, she plays with all her might. BOOMEY-BOOM-BOOM!

But Mr. Moose says there's no room in the band for her loud percussion skills. Juniper is heartbroken, until she discovers other tappers, clappers, and noisemakers in the woods. As they parade through the forest playing music together, they learn that maybe their song can wake spring too.

Watch the seasons change in this delightful picture book about being true to yourself, sure to leave readers with a spring in their step.

Review Quotes

"Depicted with pencil and digitally, Bowers's forest creatures have the outsize gestures and expressions of cartoon characters, and the illustrations' contemporary stylings sing alongside Kulekjian's onomatopoeic narration." --Publishers Weekly

"This could make a rollicking storytime suitable to the changing of the seasons, with plenty of opportunity for each kid to jump in with the sound that suits them most, soft or loud. . . . Viewers will delight in choosing their own roles in the First Notes of Spring, and this can also serve as a reminder that it can be good to shake things up and try something new." --BCCB

"Guaranteed to get hands clapping, fingers tapping, and feet thumping." --Kirkus Reviews

"A nice addition to spring collections and a reminder to celebrate your strengths." --School Library Journal

About the Author

Jessica Kulekjian first discovered her love for storytelling during a young author's contest in elementary school. Even though she lost (three times!), she didn't give up writing. After years of practice, and with lots of encouragement from family, friends, teachers, and other storytellers, Jessica became the author of picture books, including Before We Stood Tall: From Small Seed to Mighty Tree. Jessica has an MA in Teaching and works at a public charter school, supporting homeschooling families. She lives with her husband and three kids in Central California.

jessicakulekjian.com
@jessicakulekjian (Instagram)

Jennifer Bower is the illustrator of over ten books, including The Funniest Man in Baseball: The True Story of Max Patkin. She grew up on a steady diet of classic cartoons and midcentury picture books, many of which still bear her bite marks. Jennifer earned her BFA degree roughly twenty years after picking up her first crayon. She lives in North Carolina where she spends time knitting, working on crossword puzzles, container gardening, volunteering at Mitey Riders, and loving on her fur-babies.

jennbower.com
@jennbower (Instagram)