Playing in Harmony: Clarinet and Trumpet by Melanie Ellsberg

CLARINET AND TRUMPET WERE FRIENDS FROM THE FIRST NOTE.

"TRUMPET, YOU'RE A BLAST!"

"CLARINET, YOU'RE SHARP!"

The two made good music together--until a newcomer marched into the band room.

Suddenly Clarinet realized that she and Oboe had a lot in commen--silvery keys and a reed! Perhaps they should have their own section in the band and hang out together. Trumpet didn't belong with his friend any more, especially when Clarinet squeeked at the fanfare he wrote for her. Trumpet couldn't help but B flat! He started to play with Trombone. French horn tried to hit the right chord by joining with section. Then the Woodwinds invited Flute to play with them!

THAT EVENED THE SCORE!

There was no harmony in the band room until a new guy came swinging in.

It was SAXOPHONE!

He had a reed, but he was brass--a happy hybrid who smoothed the discord and jazzed up the band's sound right away!

"DIG IT!" CROONED SAX.

The percussion instruments, who had been afraid of striking the wrong beat, came out to join in, and all the band was harmoniously and melodiously in tune, in author Melanie Ellsberg's funny and punny, off-beat introduction to the instruments in the band, Clarinet and Trumpet (book with shaker) (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020), a picture-book parable with plenty of wordplay with musical terms and a pitch for cooperation in music and life. With the comic illustrations of artist John Herzog to lighten the mood, this small book offers both social and musical learning for young readers with the just the right rhythm for young readers. An added attraction is the built-in shaker in the book to help young readers join the band. Says School Library Journal, "A lyrical tour de force about individuality, friendship, and community...."