Juba This, Juba That

Traditional “juba” rhythms have a long history. They originated in Nigeria as hand-clapping games. People who were brought to the New World as slaves fought hard to keep their culture alive against terrible odds. They transformed “juba” rhythms into work songs that were passed down orally.

Juba This, Juba That is based on one of the most popular songs. With its strong beat and read-along repetition, it will delight small children. Along with all the fun there’s also fascinating history and concepts including opposites and prepositions. Children will have fun discovering the story told in the art about a boy named Juba who follows a mysterious yellow cat on a magical, middle-of-the night adventure that leaves them both happy and ready for slumber.

Helaine Becker has written over 40 books, including the best-selling A Porcupine in a Pine Tree, Looney Bay All-Stars series, non-fiction including Magic Up Your Sleeve, Secret Agent Y.O.U., and Boredom Blasters, plus many picture books and young adult novels. She also writes for children’s magazines and for television. She has been nominated for the Silver Birch Award four times and is the winner of two. Helaine Becker holds U.S. and Canadian citizenship. She attended high school in New York and now lives in Toronto.

Ron Lightburn is a Governor General’s Award-winning artist who has illustrated many best-selling picture books. His work has appeared on the covers of over sixty books and is part of the permanent collections of Library and Archives Canada, the Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books, and the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation, and Fantasy. Ron Lightburn lives in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia.