In this terrific new twist on an old favorite, Yankee Doodle not only goes to town, but he meets a girl walking a poodle. "Good day, said he, please ride with me. / My name is Yankee Doodle." Off the threesome trot. Soon they meet up with a toad, and then an old rooster singing cock-a-doodle.

After all the riding, singing, prancing, and dancing, the merry little band is quite ravenous. "Then someone got a good idea / (Perhaps it was the poodle's) / To open up a restaurant / Called Yankee Doodle's Noodles."

The eatery is a huge success. And while they served such epicurean delights as salami and baloney, cold lemonade, and apple strudel, the customers loved best of all the cheese and macaroni.

The story ends on the fourth of July, when the happy group marches in a parade singing, of course, "Yankee Doodle."

The final page, titled, "More fun with Yankee Doodle," includes five age-appropriate activities for enrichment.

The high-energy, playful illustrations, some double-page, some full-page, are done in ink and watercolor.

Classroom Uses: The book works well on several levels. Perfect for read-alouds (and sing-alouds) it is also appropriate for independent readers and sharing one-on-one. We took this book into a first grade classroom and read/sang it aloud. Afterward, individual students begged for the book so they could go back and examine all the small details in the pictures, many of which caused giggling fits.

Reviewed by the teachers at Education Oasis
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