Barbara Emberley

Time Machine
5.0 out of 5 stars Drummer Hoff Hits a Home Run, April 29, 2005

I found the reviews of Drummer Hoff to be very interesting, particularly the parts about what this book meant to my fellow readers in their youth. My take is a little different however. As a mom with two young children (38 months and almost 5) I am constantly looking for books of all sorts to read to them. I particularly like books that my kids love enough to memorize on their own.

In this light, Drummer Hoff is a show more complete hit. The drawings are so intense and interesting that my son brings the book to me all the time... or did. Now that we all know it by heart we take turns reciting it as we play on the lawn.

And while it is true, as some have noted, that it does not have an obvious beginning, middle, and end, it does still tell a story. And this book serves its purpose the same way many of the old rhymes do. It teaches diction, vocabulary and memory skills: all of which are early reading aids.

This mom and dad give it 5 stars. show less

This is a fun read-aloud book with repeating phrases. The theme is getting a cannon ready to fire, and each military character brings his component. For example, 'Sergeant Chowder brings the powder'.
The best part - the last page is a peaceful scenes of an abandoned cannon surrounded by flowers and birds.

A cumulative tale, like The House that Jack Built or The Old Woman who Swallowed a Fly. And the metre is perfect for marching. Children tend to enjoy these kinds of simple stories, even if they seem boring to some adults. And the illustrations are, of course, captivating. Of course they're not to everyone's taste, but give them a chance. I may be biased because I had an Ed Emberley coloring book when I was a child. But the Caldecott people like him, so it's not just me!

BTW: Feel free, as show more you read aloud, to emphasize parades, costumes, etc. - this doesn't have anything to do with actual military action. show less

Cheerful colors and stylized 60s drawings make a somewhat jarring counterpoint to the anti-war subtext. I have fond memories of this book from the library when I was a very small child, but I definitely didn't understand how grim it was at the time.