It’s a beautiful spring FRIDAY, and time again for Susanna Leonard Hill’s Picture Perfect Fridays. You can find a GINORMOUS list of links to picture book reviews on her site: http://susannahill.com/for-teachers-and-parents/perfect-picture-books/

This week, in honor of one of my all-time favorite rock stars, Prince, I chose SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK STAR.

Title: SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK STAR

Written by: Audrey Vernick

Illustrated by: Kirstie Edmunds

Walker & Company, 2012, Fiction

Fun for Ages: 4 and UP

Themes/Topics: Music, performance, dramatic arts, song

First page: “You want to be a rock star? Let’s see if you have what it takes.”

Brief Synopsis (from publisher): Want to learn to play air guitar? Wear the coolest rock-star clothes? Sign your autograph for tons of fans? Then this is the book for you! Perfect for young fans of Rock Band or the Disney pop stars, So You Want to Be a Rock Star is the essential primer on everything rock ‘n’ roll. With a hilarious interactive text that encourages young readers to get up and move and perfectly retro illustrations that balance fantasies of stardom with real-world rocking out, this book has something for everyone―budding singers, musicians, and their parents, too!

Why I Love This Book: This story’s tongue-in-cheek humor (“Your voice doesn’t need to be perfect. Just really loud.”) will appeal to both kids and adults. And it has a fun interactive element. Kids (and adults) are invited to air guitar, sneer, dance, sing, and more. It may not be the best for bedtime because it gets kids movin’ and groovin’!

Ideas for Teachers:  Classroom teachers can use this book when they want to get kids moving in a fun and silly way. Music teachers can use this book to get kids pumped up about performing and to help them think through the important elements of performance. After this story, they’ll be excited to strut their stuff!