From Publishers Weekly
Sandra Boynton, long heralded for her menagerie of animal characters (Moo, Baa, La La La; Rhinoceros Tap), puts a fresh cast of singing, dancing critters center stage-from the titular boogying chickens to a tail-wagging "snuggle puppy"-in Philadelphia Chickens, a book-and-CD package billed as an "imaginary musical revue." The first 32 pages contain lyrics and illustrations, the second half of the book includes musical notation and additional lyrics for each song. An all-star cast, including Meryl Streep, Laura Linney, Eric Stoltz and the Bacon Brothers, headlines the musical recording, which features a variety of original show tunes penned by Boynton and composed by Boynton and frequent collaborator Michael Ford.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
People Magazine
"Lions and tigers ... and dancing pigs? Welcome to the magical menagerie of author Sandra Boynton."
Book Description
What an event! What a show! It's catchy and quirky. Tuneful and toe-tapping. Exuberant, unexpected, and utterly endearing. It's what happens when you take America's beloved illustrator and children's author and combine her buoyant genius with some of the most talented people on the stage--presenting Philadelphia Chickens! Created by Sandra Boynton, Philadelphia Chickens is a family musical in a book, bringing together a full-color songbook of 17 1/2 illustrated story-poems with a full-length, fully orchestrated CD of original songs performed by the likes of Patti LuPone, Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, The Bacon Brothers, and Laura Linney, who pleads "Please, Can I Keep It?"--it followed me home. / What exactly it is,/ I don't know. Also joining in are Eric Stoltz, Natasha Richardson, Scott Bakula, and two Boyntons, including daughter Caitlin McEwan, who performs a piece that every little listener will relate to--a love song to the chocolate chip cookies that are just out of reach. With the collaboration of composer Michael Ford (known to Boynton fans from Rhinoceros Tap), Philadelphia Chickens is that rarest of kids' musical discs--one whose inimitable lyrics and music make it as sing-along, dance-along, cluck-along for parents as it is for their children.
About the Author
SANDRA BOYNTON is the author and illustrator of one previous songbook and song collection, Rhinoceros Tap. She is also the author of the Boynton on Board books, and other works for kids and grown-ups. Ms. Boynton (formerly from Philadelphia) lives with her family in rural Connecticut. MICHAEL FORD is a classically trained pianist with a long detour in rock performance. He lives outside Philadelphia with his family.
Philadelphia Chickens: A Too-Illogical Zoological Musical Revue FROM OUR EDITORS
Sandra Boynton -- author of such hits as Moo, Baa, La La La! and The Going to Bed Book -- and Michael Ford present this "too-illogical zoological musical revue" that showcases 17 original songs and a fabulous accompanying CD. Each spread in Part One of the book includes lyrics to the songs highlighted with Boynton illustrations, while Part Two shows the music and full lyrics for all of the numbers. With a star-studded CD featuring songs like "Nobody Understands Me," performed by Meryl Streep, and the foot-stomping "Philadelphia Chickens," sung by the Bacon Brothers, this fauna-filled fiesta is pure genius and will have kids clucking along with the music in no time.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
What an event! What a show! It's catchy and quirky. Tuneful and toe-tapping. Exuberant, unexpected, and utterly endearing. It's what happens when you take America's beloved illustrator and children's author and combine her buoyant genius with some of the most talented people on the stage-presenting Philadelphia Chickens!
Created by Sandra Boynton, Philadelphia Chickens is a family musical in a book, bringing together a full-color songbook of 17 1/2 illustrated story-poems with a full-length, fully orchestrated CD of original songs performed by the likes of Patti LuPone, Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, The Bacon Brothers, and Laura Linney, who pleads "Please, Can I Keep It?"-it followed me home. / What exactly it is,/ I don't know. Also joining in are Eric Stoltz, Natasha Richardson, Scott Bakula, and two Boyntons, including daughter Caitlin McEwan, who performs a piece that every little listener will relate to-a love song to the chocolate chip cookies that are just out of reach. With the collaboration of composer Michael Ford (known to Boynton fans from Rhinoceros Tap), Philadelphia Chickens is that rarest of kids' musical disks-one whose inimitable lyrics and music make it as sing-along, dance-along, cluck-along for parents as it is for their children.
FROM THE CRITICS
People Magazine
Lions and tigers ... and dancing pigs? Welcome to the magical menagerie of author Sandra Boynton.
Publishers Weekly
Sandra Boynton, long heralded for her menagerie of animal characters (Moo, Baa, La La La; Rhinoceros Tap), puts a fresh cast of singing, dancing critters center stage-from the titular boogying chickens to a tail-wagging "snuggle puppy"-in Philadelphia Chickens, a book-and-CD package billed as an "imaginary musical revue." The first 32 pages contain lyrics and illustrations, the second half of the book includes musical notation and additional lyrics for each song. An all-star cast, including Meryl Streep, Laura Linney, Eric Stoltz and the Bacon Brothers, headlines the musical recording, which features a variety of original show tunes penned by Boynton and composed by Boynton and frequent collaborator Michael Ford. For more on this production see Children's Audio/Video, page 22. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Children's Literature - Joan Kindig
In an attempt to create a CD that would interest children and expose them to a variety of musical forms, Sandra Boynton has teamed up with songwriter Michael Ford and written 19 songs. Best known for her whimsical drawings of plump, rounded animals, Boynton has stretched artistically and managed to reach new heights. With tongue firmly in cheek, the array of songs is remarkably funny yet tuneful. Boynton has put many of her friends to work singing on the CD including such unlikely performers as Meryl Streep (who has an amazingly good voice), Laura Linney, and The Bacon Brothers. Two songs feature her own children whose musical talents match their mother's. This is a wonderful CD for parents whose children want to hear it again and again and again. "No problem," they'll say as they listen to The Belly Button Song one more time with a sly smile on their faces. This CD is a treasure! 2002, Workman Publishing,
School Library Journal
Zany, yes, but musically diverse and with a complete score and accompanying CD, this book promotes lots of lyrical laughs. It's all here, so why not have the class present this collection of comic songs as a rollicking revue? Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Once again, Boynton goes Broadway: " . . . having completely forgotten how much work had been involved," the creators of Rhinoceros Tap (1996) offer a second, equally effervescent musical revue, packaged as a hardcover book/CD combination. The songs mix chorus-line numbers--"COWS. / We're remarkable COWS. / And wherever we go, / it's a fabulous show. / Oh, you know we are COWS . . . "--with such individual arias as "Please, Can I Keep It?," "I Like To Fuss," and "Belly Button." All but two of the songs, which were previously published as board books, are new. The CD's 19 toe-tapping tracks are performed, with appropriate theatricality, by an oddball cast headlined by the Bacon Brothers, Meryl Streep, and (wait for it) Scott Bakula; the lyrics, decorated with typically stylish Boynton animals, are printed in a large-type, sing-along format, then reprised between musical notation. Ex-toddlers and their parents alike will happily cut the rug along with the title song's Pennsylvanian pullets. (Picture book. 3+) First printing of 100,000; $100,000 ad/promo; author tour
Art & Photography
Book Info
