Drummer Boy of John John (review)

Carnival is coming, and Winston, a young Trinidadian boy, is eager to win the delicious free rotis that the Roti King is offering to the best band at the celebration in the town of John John. Unfortunately, Winston doesn't have a band, so he heads out to the junkyard to sulk and think. There he discovers the wonderful sounds that can be made from old metal containers such as biscuit tins and paint cans, and he forms his enthusiastic friends into a makeshift band playing discarded cans in "a rainbow of colors," which then takes the honors—and the chicken roti—at Carnival. A detailed closing note explains that this is inspired by the life of Winston Simon, the inventor of the Caribbean steel drum, but even without knowing the history behind the story kids will latch onto the notion of a junkyard band and a lip-smacking prize. Greenwood's text is a little lengthy, but it's a winning story filled with joyous sound effects from all the John John bands, several of which play other make-at-home-friendly instruments (the bottle-and-spoon orchestra, which goes "jingle jangle tingle tangle clink clank clunk," has particular appeal). Lessac's vibrant gouache illustrations tastefully balance busy collections of people and instruments against swathes of verdant grass, blue sky, and turquoise sea, the constant horizon line visually moving the story along. While it could be used straight as a story of invention or music history, it cries out for a choral performance with kids on found instruments letting cacophony merrily ring out. In addition to the explanatory note, a glossary and pronunciation guide and a list of sources are included.