Review of Fred and the Fantastic Tub-Tub

Hattie Fisk reviews Fred and the Fantastic Tub-Tub by Zeb Soanes, published by Graffeg.

'With the many troubles in the world, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all just stop and listen to something beautiful’ said Grandpa in Fred and the Fantastic Tub-Tub – a brilliantly musical children's book by Zeb Soanes. Designed for those aged seven to nine, the plot follows Fred, her cat Sir David Attenborough and her green-fingered grandfather as they investigate an enchanted flower that can sing. With gorgeous illustrations from Anja Uhren, the book oozes a sense of mystery and encourages readers to be curious and adventurous.

James Marangone has accompanied the text with an exciting orchestral concert work performed by Orpheus Sinfonia, a video of which is available for readers to view through a QR code on one of the first pages of the book. After following the link, I could see how magical it would be to read through the text with a child, pausing for musical interjections along the way. Especially when looking at the emphasis on the uniting power of music throughout the book, these additional elements feel indispensable. I was really looking forward to delving into these recordings; however, at the time of my review, there were only two short videos available to readers, so this additional element was not as inspiring as I had hoped. I contacted the publisher to find out more, but they were not able to give me a timeframe on the release dates of these additional recordings and resources.

After listening to the Meet the Author podcast from Graffeg, I learnt more about the method behind the book, and the intentions of the creative duo Marangone and Soanes. The collaborative process involved a lot of back and forth, with Marangone providing Soanes with an array of sound effects which then went on to influence the text. Marangone ensured that all the noises created were natural, rather than made by a computer, so that children are encouraged to replicate the sounds at home with kitchen utensils and pieces of paper. In doing so, the duo presents music as something that is accessible for all, regardless of musical ability or equipment.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and its regular use of onomatopoeia and reference to sound effects. If you are looking for an inspiring book for a seven-year-old, then this is a perfect choice – as well as being fun, it has plenty of didactic messages regarding recycling and the environment, the power of music, and even the virality of social media. More a music-based story book than an explicit music curriculum resource, this book is ideal if you are searching for a way to introduce young students to the wonders of music-infused storytelling in and outside of the classroom.