Here We Come!

by Janna Matthies, Christine Davenier (Illustrator)

Join a cast of friends, human and animal alike, as they embark on a musical read-aloud adventure in this upbeat, joyful picture book.A boy sets off with his flute and his stuffed bear and a rum-pum-pum. As they make their way through the town and the woods, they ask, “Wanna come?” Soon, kids and creatures join in the fun one by one, playing instruments, singing, and dancing to the catchy tune. But will a storm bring their fun-filled musical parade to an end?

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Childrens

40 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2022

About the author

Janna Matthies is a picture book author and early-elementary music teacher in Indianapolis. Her books include the forthcoming MY TOWERING TREE (Beach Lane Books/S&S, Aug '24), OVER IN THE GARDEN (Doubleday/RHCB, Mar '25), BABY, LET'S GO TO THE ORCHESTRA ('25). Other titles are HERE WE COME! (Beach Lane Books, 2022), which earned a Horn Book starred review and JLG Gold Standard; GOD’S ALWAYS LOVING YOU (WorthyKids/Hachette); TWO IS ENOUGH (Running Press Kids), which made the 2016 Bank Street list and NYT Book Review; THE GOODBYE CANCER GARDEN (Whitman), which earned an SLJ starred review and Best Foreign Language Children’s Book at the Sharjah International Book Fair; PETER, THE KNIGHT WITH ASTHMA (Whitman); and MONSTER TRUCKS (Piggy Toes Press). When she’s not writing or making music, Janna can be found digging in the garden, swimming laps, or keeping up with her husband, three nearly-grown kids, and howling husky Juneau.

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just fun, can students guess the rhyming words in this audience participation story? Along with guessing the words, your children or students can sing along or repeat the verses as you read to them.

[Leova Manbhat · Rating 2 out of 5]

A child and his bear goes out on a night parade. Along the way they are joined by animals with instruments and other children until it rains and they all go home. Story ended with the boy and the bear in their porch eating a midnight snack.

The story did not make any sense to me.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful toddler/preschool romping title with delightful rhymes as the animals dance and march through the forest to the beat of a rum pum pum, the children and forest animals delighting until it starts to rain, and dance-march back home to bed.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, I'm ready to have fun with the children out-of-doors at night; it's just a sweet fantasy so I won't fuss about that. The rhythmic cumulative chant is wonderful, and the art suits. But Do Not take shelter under a tree during a lightning storm!!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect book for a music or weather story time.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun musical read aloud for the preschool set.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. It was fun watching the new characters come on, and then leave in reverse order. But the book would have been better if it ended 2 or 3 pages earlier.

[SamSamSam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the cumulative text and rhyme. PHONOLOGICAL AWARENRESS

[Wendy Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really singable, but great rhythms and repetition.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun cumulative story

[Melissa the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully lyrical, with great read-aloud factor.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has such a catchy rhythm! The illustrations are also gorgeous with a hint of nostalgia. This book would make a wonderful gift for anyone with picture-book age children.

[Elaine Bearden · Rating 5 out of 5]

great rhythm and rhyme and repetition to read-aloud - cumulative tale from someone who has done early childhood music a long time

[Eileen Winfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little rhyming book where the tempo - and the emotion - of the story depends upon the reader. Very sweet.

[Rolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

The repetitive pattern throughout the book is cute, though at times a bit hard to say, which complicates it a bit as a read-aloud.

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holt-Delhi library PJ story time 04-10-2024

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

1/4/2024 ~ A lovely, rhythmic story that begs to be read interactively with children. This could also be an interesting text to use to model the narrative arc.