Animal Albums from A to Z

Hilarious, high-stepping tributes to a musical niche that never was.

Newbery Honoree Bell creates an entire high-fidelity world with this clever, irresistibly prodigious abecedarian, which features album cover art and one song's worth of liner-note lyrics from 26 invented animal recording artists. The creaturely crooners--soloists and groups alike--represent each letter of the alphabet as well as musical genres ranging from classical to hip-hop, and album design aesthetics across the decades. Standing for S, Slow Surfin' '67 from the Sensational Sloth Boys sports a Pet Sounds-style cover and the ditty "Sometimes the Soup Is Salty" ("Sometimes the soup is salty/ But I'll make it sweet for you"). Additionally, for each album, the creator has produced a song (accessed via a QR code) and provides a brief "About the Artists" note. Of the Sensational Sloth Boys, brothers Sam, Syd, and Slocum Slothum grew up in SoCal writing tunes about "teen crushes and soup" that made their fans snooze (describing a 1969 performance: "I fell asleep. It was the best nap I ever had"). For new listeners and seasoned audiophiles alike, this rigorously imaginative tour de force--conjured up from collaged, hand-painted paper and even a little embroidery--displays Bell's goofy, deeply affectionate, no-detail-left-behind creativity, which turns each rockin' concept "up to 11." Ages 4-8. (Mar.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 3—A retro spin on the alphabet in this ode to vinyl music. In her opening note, Bell discusses her love of albums from the 1940s to the 1980s, particularly those by animal musicians! What follows is a series of album covers and song lyrics from 26 fanciful recording artists. Playing with genres and decades, the album covers and liner-note lyrics feature barbershop quartets in striped blazers and mind-bending psychedelic fonts and color. The letter M introduces Mandy and the Meerkats: dressed in matching pink dresses and sporting beehive hairdos, their featured song, "I'm in the Mood for Mustard" has a "doo-wah, doo-wah" chorus call-back to the golden age of Motown. A QR code gives readers the opportunity to listen to these "original" songs. An "About the Artists" section hilariously continues the fun, with tidbits that will have children and their tuned-in adults howling. VERDICT With wondrous handmade art, this abecedary will have readers of all ages shimmying and moonwalking. A recommended purchase.—Rosemary Kiladitis

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Tongue firmly in cheek, Bell explains in her introduction that she's a collector of records by animal musicians, from the 1940s to the '80s. . . uproariously funny, clever lyrics. . . Hilarious, high-stepping tributes to a musical niche that never was.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Bell brings the absolute best of her exuberant wit to this inventive, zany, hilarious assemblage of album covers. After a deadpan introduction explains this "authentic" collection of rare vintage LPs, Bell presents a deeply silly, enormously enjoyable A to Z of animals as recording artists. . . . Meticulously crafted collages of hand-painted paper and paint strike every right note in cleverly recalling classic album-cover design of the mid- to late-twentieth century. . . Reveling in everything alliterative, the humor swings from goofy to groanworthy, from silly to sophisticated. . . . Rounding out this musical tour de force, Bell offers audio of these super silly songs accessible online via QR code.
—Booklist (starred review)

Newbery Honoree Bell creates an entire high-fidelity world with this clever, irresistibly prodigious abecedarian, which features album cover art and one song's worth of liner-note lyrics from 26 invented animal recording artists. . . . For new listeners and seasoned audiophiles alike, this rigorously imaginative tour de force—conjured up from collaged, hand-painted paper and even a little embroidery—displays Bell's goofy, deeply affectionate, no-detail-left-behind creativity, which turns each rockin' concept "up to 11."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A retro spin on the alphabet in this ode to vinyl music. . . . With wondrous handmade art, this abecedary will have readers of all ages shimmying and moonwalking.
—School Library Journal

A sheer delight for all ages! Cece Bell's picture book pays homage to music both through her lyrical poems—er, SONGS—and the stylish album covers that go with them. Unique, hilarious, and beautifully illustrated, Animal Albums from A to Z will have readers singing along!
—Lorie Barber, Anderson's Bookshop