The First Music

by Dylan Pritchett, Erin Bennett Banks (Illustrator)

When the animals all get together in the jungle, they discover that the noise that they have been making is indeed music. Dylan Pritchett, the incoming president of the National Association of Black Storytellers weaves a tale that helps us discover that we all have music inside just waiting to come out.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Animals, Childrens, Africa, Fiction, Audiobook

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 5, 2006

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really do think it's a big loss not being able to see the illustrations for picture books, but I know there is also something to be said for the art of verbal storytelling and allowing audiences to form their own pictures in their imaginations. The First Music is in this category. I appreciated the animal sounds and musical accompaniment as it's a story about animals making music together. (The music got a bit repetitive and crowded into the narrator's voice a bit, IMO, but it was still fun!)

Available free here in the "Littlest Listeners" category:
https://stories.audible.com/discovery

[Xan Rooyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story for little kids. I'll definitely be using this in my music class.

I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. Great use of accompanying sound and instruments. A good educational resource.

[Janilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about music. I like this book because I like to be singer. I give this book 5 stars.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright. Since it doesn't rhyme I'd need to experiment with kids. I liked the pictures and the different animals. it was the authors version of hearing music in nature. could be a good lesson for kids to listen to the things around them. anyways it was fun and worth getting from the library to see if your kids would like it

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An african tale of the animals in the area learning to singa nd dance and the frogs who feel they don't have the arms or legs to join in. Like the lesson everyone has something to give. Preschool and up

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

music/sounds/dance; Africa, jungle; animals - frogs, hyena, owl, buffalo, parrot, monkey, crocodile, elephant, crane, hawk

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this would be a fantastic book to share aloud with preschoolers. Lots of rhythm and sounds.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun story. Jungle animals are making their own sounds when one day the monkey discovers he likes the sounds the elephant is making after stubbing his toe. It goes from there, with each animal realizing they make their own music. On Audible.com there are added sound effects, which add to it.

[Kristen Quinlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a vibrant tale of the origins of music and rhythm in Africa featuring traditional African animals, and pictures that resemble Kente cloth. The illustrations add to the cultural context, much like the Chinese folklore books and artistry in books written by Demi.

[Kathy KS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will use for this year's Summer Library Program! I'll have to practice the sounds, though, before I read it to the kids.

[Željko Filipin · Rating 3 out of 5]

How the first music was made.

[Emespre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. The story, narrator and background sounds were all excellent.

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exuberant and expressive illustrations slowed down by a word heavy text that could have used some editing. Not sure animals created orchestral music but interesting thought.

[Holly Letson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've listened to this audiobook twice now, vi@ Audible Stories. It was very enjoyable.

[Awjtf · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute book

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book! And that cover is beautiful!

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely going to use this one at school and share with the music teacher, too!

[Ezekiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly rhythmic, The First Music imagines the first time the animals in "Africa" (no specificity is given) made music. Adults may get a kick out of attempting to make the rhythm and sounds with their children, while appreciating the message given: that all different voices are needed to make interesting music, and that all people should be free to participate at whatever level they feel capable.

[Tawny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book because of the illustrations. All through out the books each animal is so animated they are almost jumping off the page. I think this book is more directed toward the second grade level. There is a lot of repetition through out the book all based on music. Good book!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids have fun making music with the animals.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Origin tale of music from the animals of Africa. Storytelling would be great to add instruments.

[Natalie Moreland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it. It reminds me of Kipling's Just So Stories. (5-8)

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an excellent book for the study of onomatopoeia. And what a great final message: everyone has something to bring to the party.

[Kitty Tomlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful children's picture book about how animal music came to be in the African Jungle. Tumble Book.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute African folk tale about how the animals made the first music and the importance of each one's role.