Bob Dylan -- Artist, Musician, and now, Children's Book Author!

I know, I know, Halloween isn't even over yet, but I'm already thinking about the holidays and cool gift ideas. But I like being prepared, and I like starting early. Last month I received a review copy of a book that's sure to be on my holiday gift guide: Man Gave Names to All the Animals, a children's book featuring the lyrics to Bob Dylan's song, beautifully illustrated by Jim Arnosky.

The Basics
Man Gave Names to All the Animals is Bob Dylan's first picture book with a cd. Here's more information about it:

Based on the gospel-influenced, rhythmic-beat song from Bob Dylan's 1979 Slow Train Coming album, this enchanting book adaptation is illustrated by award-winning artist Jim Arnosky and comes with a CD of the original recording. The book has already won acclaim for its “majestic acrylic and pencil tableaus” (Publishers Weekly), and Kirkus Reviews calls it “a beautiful concept with gorgeous artwork”.

A marvelous visual extension of the songwriter’s wry wit; children will delight in the chance to discover the furry, snorting, slithering animals of Dylan’s whimsical song. Award-winning artist and naturalist Arnosky has crafted more than 170 breathtaking images of spectacular creatures ready to receive their names. A pictorial hide-and-seek on every page, readers can visit jimarnosky.com to see if they’ve named every animal.

Jim Arnosky is the rare author-illustrator who LIVES what he paints! He sketched many of the animals in Man Gave Names to All the Animals from live creatures he’s encountered on his travels, and the immediacy of those encounters really comes through in his paintings. Hailed by critics for his “skill at making natural history come alive for young readers” (Kirkus Reviews) and his “infectious enthusiasm for nature” (School Library Journal, starred review), Jim Arnosky has used these talents to create lushly detailed illustrations of a magical, imaginative world of animals – all waiting for a name.

The perfect gift for any young animal-lover or music-lover, this keepsake volume will be treasured by the whole family.


The Bongga
This book has everything going for it! To start with, Jim Arnosky's illustrations are amazing, and his clever way of hiding animals in the book makes it so much fun for kids. I'd recommend the book on those two features alone. Then, of course, you've got Bob Dylan's classic song, which is just as whimsical and entertaining when spoken as it is sung. Fortunately, since the book comes with a cd, your child can listen to it both ways. It's the perfect way for Dylan fans to introduce their kids to his music! Bob Dylan's music is a staple in our home, so when I showed this book to the kids, they were delighted to have a visual representation of the song, which they love. They also love having a Bob Dylan cd of their very own! There's just nothing we don't love about this book!


The Blah
Like I said, there's nothing we don't like. Just get the book already!


The Bottom Line
Man Gave Names to All the Animals is a children's book, coffee table book, and Dylan collector's item, all in one -- which makes it the perfect present!

Disclosure: I received a sample of this book, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.