Peter and the Wolf by Sergey Prokofiev, retold by Chris Raschka.

Raschka has taken Prokofiev’s orchestral masterpiece and reworked it into a picture book that both pays homage to the music and also takes it to a different place.  The book introduces each character in turn, gives them a voice and a sound and has them appear on the stage.  First comes Peter, who is a spinning, twirling, whirling force.  Then comes the bird, who is a delight to read aloud with his stutter and rhythm.  My favorite then enters, the duck, who virtually yodels, calling his presence to everyone.  Other characters enter, each with their own unique sound and style that is shown by their language and the words but also by their appearance.

This book is such a joy to read aloud, but even more it demands to be made into some sort of production with children acting out the various parts.  If I had a small class, I could see taking turns doing each part so that everyone has the thrill of reading the wolf.  It will work best with older elementary students around age 9 or 10 who will enjoy the humor and not be caught by the words and rhythms. 

If you don’t have a class to do this, please share it with any preschool group.  Listen to the orchestral version first and children will be delighted to recognize each instrument and character and voice.  Raschka has taken a nearly impossible retelling and done it with a magical ease and style.

Highly recommended for preschoolers and older: ages 4+.