Those rock 'n' roll animals

Punk Farm on Tour
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Alfred A. Knopf, publishers

I don't care what the press release says, there is no "Wheels on the Van" on the Punk Farm website. And I'm pissed! happy!

Okay, "Old McDonald" definitely rocks, with Sheep on vocals, Chicken on keyboard and ... oh, never mind. Hey, Random House, my kids wanna hear "Wheels", folks. Got that? Fix the site! Oh never mind. It's all good.

In fact, here it is.

This is one of those sequels to a book I never read, but is worth getting even if you're a Punk Farm virgin like me. My son's already a fan, though struggling to keep loose galleys together is a pain. I'm ordering the bound version for sanity's sake.

In the first Punk Farm, a Wisconsin barnyard rocks it out while Farmer Joe sleeps. In this one, he's off to a tractor convention in Reno, so the gang -- Goat, Cow, Pig and the aforementioned Sheep and Chicken -- is taking their show cross-country.

But, hey, can they think up a cool new song? Will inspiration or their wretched van give out first?

Oooh ... suspense. I love it. And a twist on a song my kids actually know.

But you're missing half the book if you don't check out what other animals turn up where.  My favorite: the flamingo groupie. You can actually learn something about the local fauna in far-flung corners of the U.S.

Punk Farm On Tour isn't another barnyard story, not with a goatee-sporting Goat who fixes engines or a Pig who's, well, a total pig. But what makes this especially stand out is its off-kilter humor and the creator's refusal to take anything seriously. And kids get it. Nothing's aimed over their heads at parents. Sure, you know more about punk than your kids. Krosocza obviously thinks that's curable.

On a side note, this was probably a bad time to give up vegetarianism. My kids are mortified at the thought of eating such talented critters. Rock on! And pass the wings ...

Rating: *\*\*\*\

Comments

[Goat]

Hey man, no worries...we just uploaded our song yesterday. We were so busy in the recording studio making sure it was just right.

Hope you dig it... www.punkfarm.com/song.html or www.punkfarmspace.com

Peace and rock 4-ever,
Goat

[Anne]

Cool, Goat, I'll be sure to check it out. Thanks for stopping by!