Though Greene (The Stable Where Jesus Was Born, not reviewed, etc.) sometimes loses the beat, this rhymed jungle party tale will elicit the same finger-snapping, hand-clapping audience response that Gail Jorgensen’s Crocodile Beat (1989) and Bill Martin Jr.’s classic Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989) usually get. The tree frog starts it all by issuing the call each May and creatures from marching ants to a lion in tie and tails gather for fun, games, and general carousing. In his unusually energetic debut, Wolff captures all the action, depicting big, solid-looking animals with grins and brightly patterned fur or feathers jitterbugging, gesticulating, and finally bidding one another affectionate adieu. Dropped syllables and lame rhymes (“come . . . fun,” “around . . . merry-go-round”) may keep this from reaching the top of the charts, but it sets a happy tone that’s right for any festive occasion. (Picture book. 6-8)
