Written by Philip Pelletier and illustrated by Verne Linder, One Night In Frogtown is a colorful and toe-tapping book and CD that teach the values of both cultural diversity and that of being a musical omnivore.. The swinging soundtrack and captivating illustrations will fascinate kids and grownups alike, and the book and CD are designed to be enjoyed together or apart; lyrics for each song are presented in the book at their proper point in the story, so they can be read, sung along with, or listened to. The book-and-CD package sells for about $25 from the startup publisher, and for the quality of this hardbound book and the music that accompanies it, we think it's a price well worth paying.

The main character is a saxophone playing tadpole (Tad) who has diverse musical tastes and a good ear for a melody. Tad encounters many types of music as he travels through Frogtown, where he hears frogs perform hip-hop, blues and classical music. But his world is not the accepting place he’d like it to be - the bluesmen don’t jive with the classical groove, and the classics group believes rap is a waste of time. Thrown out of a blues joint, a symphony hall and a rap hang out because of his appreciation for many musical styles, Tad sings his troubles to the night. Will Tad be able to bring Frogtown together with his song?

A number of local Oregon musicians including Linda Hornbuckle, Devin Phillips, Heather Christie, and Shannon Day join up with Pelletier on this project, which has been Nominated for the 2008 Oregon Book Award. The best tune on the CD is "Alone," with singer Heather Christie. Her voice has a haunting quality and the tune could stand alone. Devin Phillips shines with his awesome saxophone performance. Philip Pelletier should take a bow for his musical composition, lyrics and production of the music.

Color is used throughout the book to full effect with bright, simple characters that bring the storyline home. The text is easily readable and song lyrics are clearly marked for easy sing-along. The classical gang of treefrogs is my favorite of the characters, managing to look both angry and funny at the same time.

This musical songbook makes it fun for children to think and learn about different musical styles and why our appreciation of music doesn't have to be exclusive to particular genres. Pelletier has plans for two more books soon in the Frogtown theme, and we can't wait to see them. You can take a peek inside One Night In Frogtown, listen to its music, and purchase it at the publisher's website. - Karen