Juicy Juicy Green Grass and other fun songs by Peter Combe ill Danielle McDonald

uicy juicy green grass,

Where have you gone?

Will you come back?

Juicy juicy green grass.

Juicy juicy green grass,

Where have you gone?

Will you come back?

Juicy juicy green grass.

Juicy Juicy Green Grass and other fun songs’ is, as the title suggests, a collection of songs from Peter Combe. The title song laments the lack of green grass and pleads for it to return. ‘The Silly Postman’ suggests that this particular postman isn’t doing his job quite as he ought. ‘The Tadpole’s Song’ tracks a tadpole through his transformation to a frog, complete with his lament for lost youth and ends with a celebration of his new form. The final song, ‘Red Says Stop’ explores and explains the different coloured lights at in traffic lights. Illustrations are brightly coloured and humourous and fill every opening. Juicy Juicy Green Grass comes with a cd of Peter Combe singing his songs.

Peter Combe has been delighting youngsters with his lyrical silliness for a generation. His songs encourage singing and dancing and the right amount of ridiculousness. Along the way, children will discover that sheep eat grass for breakfast, lunch and tea; there are some things that do not belong in the letterbox; that tadpoles might miss their tail as well as what to do at the traffic lights to be safe. Childhood is full of learning and it’s great that some of it has been set to song – a reminder that the world needs silliness and fun. Recommended for pre- and early-schoolers.

Juicy Juicy Green Grass and other fun songs, Peter Combe, ill Danielle McDonald Scholastic Australia 2014 ISBN: 9781743620649

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com