Drumming Through the Jungle is more than just a story. It is an exciting interactive rhythmic adventure, designed to engage children and turn them into active participants rather than just passive listeners/readers! Below are some helpful tips on how to get the most out of the story with your child/children. Enjoy reading in rhythm! . . .

• Throughout the story you will encounter several different rhythms. You can listen to all of these rhythms below by clicking on each one in the music player. This will help you to familiarize yourself with them before reading them in the story (see special notes with the downloadable extended versions below).

• As you read the story, say the rhythm and then have your child/children echo it back.

• First do each rhythm verbally--if they can say it, then they can play it!

• Do the rhythm again, but this time say it and play it using body percussion (claps, hands on legs, feet, etc.), found sounds (buckets, pans, etc.), or drums and percussion instruments. Use a different sound for each animal in the story.

• Find ways to model moving your body with the rhythms to help internalize them and "feel" them (see notes with extended rhythms below).

• Each rhythm was carefully designed for young readers to be able to play and enjoy. All of the animal rhythms together create a basic rhythmic puzzle where each part is special and unique, and supports a larger group rhythm.

• Download the extend versions of the rhythms below to listen and play along with them.

• Encourage your child/children to have fun experimenting and creating their own rhythms.