Official Review: The "Tails" of Lord Benjamin F...
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- PeterRabitt20
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Official Review: The "Tails" of Lord Benjamin F...
Written by Park Balevre, The "Tails" of Lord Benjamin Fritzie is a musical story of how Lord Benjamin Fritzie (who seems to be a Cocker Spaniel) grew a tail.
This installment is the first of a story collection featuring the canine character. Only 23 pages long, this charming tale unfolds with the Fritzwater cousins (Jaden, Cierra, Olivia, and Adrian) visiting their uncle’s (Sir Edward Fritz) castle. Uncle Edward's home is ancient and filled with places to discover: a magical pond, a high tower, a mote, and a dungeon. After a long afternoon in the hot sun, Cierra gets freckles all over her face. Saddened, she is fearful and ashamed of her horrible spots. Fortunately, Uncle Edward has a wise tale about another family member who suffered a similar predicament—their great “granddog” Lord Benjamin Fritzie.
I was amazed by the high level of engagement in the story. On top of being a picture book, it is a sing-along. The medieval tune is composed and written by the author. It could be played on any e-reader without problem (I used an Amazon tablet). The song was performed by Ted Louckes and Brian Luckett; as a notable mention, the comical illustrations were drawn by Aniqa Siddiq.
As a bonus, there is a musical sheet on the last page—written in notes and chords; the score seems easy enough for any beginners. Children learning their notes will like the upbeat and quirky rhythm. This was my favorite part of the book. Moreover, there is an important message of self-esteem and acceptance. In addition, the characters are racially diverse, which promotes unity. Each of these points is a positive aspect of this story.
The downside of this tale is the brevity; I would have liked to read the complete adventures of Lord Fritzie. Nonetheless, this shows how much I enjoyed the story. As a result, I did not count the length as a negative against the book.
I gladly rate this book 4 out of 4 stars; I sang and dabbled along on the piano. The plot execution was original and humorous; therefore, I found no reason to give it a lower rating.
I would recommend this book to music teachers and their students. I also recommend it to anyone learning how to play a musical instrument—the musical score might be a good practice. I would not recommend it to those expecting a long chapter book.
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The "Tails" of Lord Benjamin Fritzie
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- SweetSourSalty AndSpicy
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They sure do! Thanks for stopping by!
- PeterRabitt20
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I had a good laugh at that story! Thanks for your comment!Booklover Becca wrote: ↑16 May 2021, 12:22 What a cute idea to incorporate both music and reading. The idea of the spaniel needing to grow a tail is humorous. Thanks for the great review
- PeterRabitt20
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I think it will great for e-pianos as well! Have fun with it! Thanks!Kavita Shah wrote: ↑15 May 2021, 10:29 What a wonderful book for beginners. I am trying my hand on piano( e-piano) so maybe I'll read this. Thank you for a great review!
- PeterRabitt20
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I appreciate your kind comment and hope you get to read it! Thanks for stopping by!Kanchan Sharma wrote: ↑15 May 2021, 01:29 The review is believable and intriguing. I am eager to read the book.
- PeterRabitt20
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He put the "fun" in work! Thanks for stopping by!Fireside119 wrote: ↑14 May 2021, 22:25 I like that the author delivered a solid storyline with fun and educational bits that will suit the young readers who are his intended audience.
- Josephe-Anne
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But I'm not entirely sure how a book starring canine characters can be racially diverse. Does the story feature individuals from different dog breeds?
Either way, thank you for a lovely review.
― Horace Mann
- PeterRabitt20
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The story does feature different dog breeds . It also features humans—I don't want to give too much away. I think you'll love the tune and the music sheet. Hope you get a chance to try it out! Thanks for stopping by!Josephe-Anne wrote: ↑19 May 2021, 05:48 This sounds like a fun, creative, and well-thought-out story! I love that the author chose to write and incorporate a song with a music sheet into the book. I haven't played the piano since I was a child, and now I am thinking about taking lessons again.
But I'm not entirely sure how a book starring canine characters can be racially diverse. Does the story feature individuals from different dog breeds?
Either way, thank you for a lovely review.
BTW how did you get the dog emojis.