If Laurie Berkner is a rock star for kids, Victor Vito is her anthem! Packaged with a CD single of this huge hit song, the book, hilariously illustrated by Henry Cole, is destined to become a classic! This road trip book, packaged with a CD for the ride, begins when Victor Vito and Freddie Vasco leave their failed Klondike Cafe in search of zesty new foods from around the 50 states. Along the way, they stop in New Mexico for burritos, South Carolina for rutabagas and collard greens, and NYC's Little Italy for the spaghetti that made this song famous! In the end, when the townsfolk cheer the return of Victor and Freddie, kids and parents will celebrate, too, as their favorite song becomes their favorite new book! Right up front we'll say that the song "Victor Vito" is a much better song than it is a story. However, if you read the book while listening to the CD, you'll have a fun (and nonsensical) illustrated-song experience. Fortunately, the CD is included in the back, and features the songs "Victor Vito" and the catchy "Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)," both written and performed by Berkner. Plus, the music to "Victor Vito" (with all four verses) is printed in the back for those wanting to create a festive and musical story hour. The book begins with a letter from polar bears Victor and Freddie, owners of Alaska's Klondike Café, announcing to the seal-waitresses and walrus-cooks that they are embarking on a cross-America road trip to discover new, not-so-fishy taste treats. In New Mexico, they eat a burrito with Tabasco: "They put it on their rice, they put it on their beans." In Louisiana, they put it "on their rutabagas, and on their collard greens." In New York City, a squirrel maitre d' suggests, "Hey VICTOR! Hey Freddie! Let's eat some spaghetti." They do... with Tabasco. When Victor and Freddie finally get home, everyone is excited to eat spaghetti instead of the usual Klondike Café fish. Henry Cole's wonderful depictions of polar bears on their culinary quest are as silly and lively as Berkner's song. (Preschool and older) --Karin Snelson PreSchool-Grade 2--Berkner's children's song is "set to story" in this colorful picture book. Victor and Freddie, two polar bears who own the Klondike Café in Alaska, decide they need to spice up their menu. They close their restaurant, give their walrus cooks and seal waitresses a vacation, hop into a convertible VW bug, and travel around America to find new flavors. From burritos in New Mexico to collard greens in Louisiana, and spaghetti in New York, they load up with different foods. Once home, they are joined by a party of critters at the Café to celebrate their new cuisine. Cole's lush cartoon illustrations sprawl across the pages as the bears take in the scenery and tasty treats during their excursion. Added touches like the vacationing staff lolling on the beach and reading their bosses' postcards enlarge upon the slight lyrics. Children familiar with the song will enjoy the nuttiness of the story and even those who don't know it will appreciate the bears' antics. With its rhythmic lyrics and refrains, this is a fine choice for group sharing and would be fun to pair with the CD for a multimedia storytime. --Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Laurie's Today Show performance had kids and their parents dancing in the plaza! She was recently named the "in" performer by Entertainment Weekly. Rave reviews for Laurie appeared in The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, People, and US Weekly. LAURIE BERKNER produces fun, sing-along music that helps kids learn. Laurie has released four different albums—Whaddaya Think of That?; Buzz, Buzz; Under a Shady Tree; and Victor Vito. She is featured on the Noggin show Jack's Big Music Show. She lives in NewYork City. Hard Cover CD