BOOK REVIEW: The Boy Who Wanted To Rock, by David Weiser.

TITLE: The Boy Who Wanted To Rock
AUTHOR: David Weiser
PUBLISHED BY: BookBaby

This really is the coolest children's book which I’m sure will help turn young readers into young rockers. It is packed full of information presented in a fun way. It is an entertaining picture book all about rock and roll with an innovative story written by music industry veteran David Weiser.  Originally written for his five-year-old son, it takes readers on a musical journey. It will help stimulate an interest in music in young readers and encourage them to preserver whilst learning a musical instrument. 

The hero of the tale is guided by a cast of helpful animals and unlikely creatures who teach him the fundamentals of music and encourage him on his musical journey whilst at the same time he realises that his inner monster is the key to learning and enjoying music. Having so many animals in the story is an added bonus for young readers and those being read to.

This story takes me back to my youth when I was learning to play the guitar. It reminds me of how frustrated I was when I realised I couldn’t just pick up the instrument and play straight away; in time, I realised it takes hours of practice and learning. I recognised eventually that once I’d practised regularly, I’d begun to get better. This book explains all of this in an engaging way with lots of fun thrown in.  The book is an ideal tool to introduce the fundamentals of the musical instruments typically used by rock bands: the guitar, drums and keyboards. For readers who love music this book is a joy; it delivers on what it promises, making music enjoyable and interesting for young children.

The book is beautifully presented with eye-catching colours and lively characters; the artwork is stunning with superb attention to detail; it is delightfully illustrated with large colourful illustrations on more than every other page, ideal for youngsters to become absorbed in whilst the story is being read to them.

Additionally, it is an excellent resource for parents and teachers to use to encourage children to become interested in music, whether it's at home or in the classroom. Parents wanting to encourage their children to play a musical instrument will be delighted to find this book as it talks about instruments and scales. It will be a ‘go to’ book at night for children learning an instrument as it has rhymes to help them remember things and amazing illustrations which will have them looking for new details to uncover they may have missed first time, every time it’s read.

With easy-to-understand examples, the author introduces the concepts of rhythm, pitch and tempo; the rhythm and rhyme is perfect for reading aloud. He uses his background as a keyboard programmer to make sure children understand the basics and the importance of regular practice.

The story is told in rhythmic verse, and for a book about music, the rhythm is accurate and balanced throughout.

This book is a treasure for children and parents exploring the world of music; I can highly recommend it for children of all ages and all would-be rock stars.

An accompanying music video with songs and audiobook featuring the story can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeDTG4D5fyU

The book is superbly illustrated by Derek Lavoie.

Reviewer - Anne Pritchard