On the eve of singing at a community festival, a bout of stage fright threatens a little girl's confidence. As Indigo Blume drifts off to sleep, she isn't sure she's brave enough to take the stage. But once she falls asleep, Indigo finds herself in a dream world with the characters of her favorite book, Acoustic Rooster and his Barnyard Band. The band's members, including Miss Dairy Parton and Chickee Minaj, are rehearsing, and they invite Indigo to join the group. But when a storm destroys their barn, the animals are left with almost nothing. Can Indigo rally the band to work together and save their home? And will she find her voice in time for the festival? PreS-Gr 2—A young girl named Indigo Blume is nervous about singing in front of a large crowd. After her mother sings her to sleep, Indigo wakes up inside her favorite book. She meets a talking animal band led by a fowl named Acoustic Rooster. After the barn is destroyed, Indigo organizes a concert to raise funds for rebuilding. When she wakes up, she has the courage to perform her solo. Like Dorothy returning from Oz, Indigo wonders if Acoustic Rooster and pals were real. Indigo's anxiety is subtly conveyed. The more she worries, the larger the crowd grows in her mind: first hundreds, then thousands, then millions of people. Characters sometimes sing their lines of dialogue, indicated by music notes around word bubbles. Song lyrics are either expository or encouraging platitudes. Characters sing only a line or two at a time, requiring readers to create their own melody and rhythm. Acoustic Rooster's band members have names that salute actual musicians, such as Dairy Parton, Chickee Minaj, Duck Ellington, and Mules Davis on trumpet. VERDICT Many characters who sporadically burst into song could make this a challenging read-aloud. Recommended for independent reading or one-on-one sharing with a child who needs a self-esteem boost and likes jazz and/or farm animals.—Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill P.L., MA Happy to contribute to her community but suffering cold feet at the prospect of headlining the Garden City Community Festival, Indigo dreams herself into the swinging barnyard of Acoustic Rooster and his punny-named musical friends. When a sudden storm demolishes the barn, Indigo proves her mettle twice over by organizing a benefit concert and stepping in for the ailing Dairy Parton ( the diva is hoarse... even though she is a cow ) and wakes ready to rock the house. -- --Publisher's Weekly ...a fun, lyrical picture book with a cast of silly barnyard characters, who help a young girl find her confidence. -- --San Francisco Book Review "confidence booster all kids need." -- --Terri Schlichenmeyer (syndicated columnist) Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, publisher, Emmy Award-winning producer, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of 42 books. His books have been honored with numerous awards, including the prestigious UK Carnegie Medal shortlist, a National Book Award nomination, the Newbery Medal, and a Caldecott Medal―among others. He regularly shares his passion for literacy, books, and the craft of writing at events around the world. His mission is to change the world, one word at a time. Even at a young age, Tim Bowers's artwork reflected a strong sense of humor and an interest in animals. Prior to illustrating children's books, Tim worked as an artist for Hallmark Cards, where he helped launch the popular Shoebox Greetings card line. His first children's book, The Toy Circus , was published in 1986. He now has illustrated more than 25 children's books and garnered various awards including the Chicago Public Library's "Best of the Best" list and several Junior Library Guild selections. Tim's artwork has been included in the Society of Illustrators Annual Art Exhibition and the S.I. Humor Exhibition, as well as featured in children's magazines, used on a wide variety of products, and appeared on hundreds of greeting cards. Original paintings from several books are in private and institutional collections across the country. Tim lives with his family in Granville, Ohio, and travels to schools and libraries to share his work with students.