Two youngsters are sent upstairs to bed when Daddy’s band convenes in the basement. Although they are supposed to be sleeping, the siblings hear the music below and cannot help but dance. Soon, they are sneaking downstairs, past Mama in the kitchen, to see the band in action. On they continue down to the basement, where they are in for a surprise. Their hearts thump to the beat, and they can’t help but want to move. Very quickly, they are discovered, but just as quickly, they are asked to join in the music! Later, when the children begin to yawn, they are sent back to bed, but they dream of joining Daddy’s band again.

One word perfectly describes The Band in Our Basement: alive. Kelly J. Baptist’s text has both rhythm and rhyme that is irresistible. Jenin Mohammed’s lively illustrations with wild swaths of color literally dance off the page. Readers can almost hear the music in the basement and feel the beat as they hold the book in their hands. Warning: some may be hard pressed to resist a spontaneous jazzy dance party of their own.

(Review originally published on San Francisco Book Review and book donated to Maltby Food Bank.)