Bunting is perhaps best known for her skirmishes with heavy weather—racism, riots, homelessness, war—but that is not to deny her talent for pure whimsy, and that is what she delivers here. “Hey diddle diddle, the cat plays the fiddle,” starts the classic, tomfool nursery rhyme. Enter the cow, but it’s not jumping over the moon, it “plays the silver trombone.” Then Bunting starts over, with a twist: “Hey diddle dum, the whale bangs the drum, / the seal’s on the big saxophone”; “Hey diddle dumpet, the camel blows trumpet, / the elephant’s awesome on bass.” Fraser’s accompanying artwork is cheery and saturated, the colors running from cool to hot, and the animals presented in comical two-page spreads, some discombobulated, some hep cats—sunglasses, a fez—even when they aren’t cats. Then a young boy enters the picture, and there is a radical shift in perspective, a drawing back to show that the animals are part of a music-box band ensemble, a richly populated, wind-up toy orchestra that’s as visually playful as a fancy birthday cake. Not the least of the music made here will be in a sing-along read-aloud, with accompanying guffaws to mark the time. (Picture book. 2-5)
