Groovy Joe isn’t just your average canine; he’s a “song-singing, tail-wagging party of one!” Created by Eric Litwin, the celebrated author behind the original Pete the Cat series and “The Nuts,” Groovy Joe is a guitar-playing, dancing, and singing dog character that leaps off the page. In his latest book, “Groovy Joe: Dance Party Countdown,” Joe is ready to boogie when he hears a knock. Suddenly, a group of dogs he’s never seen before are at his door, eager to join the fun. Will there be enough space for everyone to groove? As more musical pups arrive, each bringing their own instrument, the party swells, doubling in size with every knock, turning into a tail-wagging extravaganza filled with countdown dance songs!
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Eric Litwin about the groovy inspiration behind Joe. We delved into his journey from elementary school teacher to beloved children’s author, his deep love for music, and the spark that ignited the Groovy Joe series. You can listen to our full conversation on a recent podcast episode (Apple Podcasts or Soundcloud). In this post, I want to dive deeper into “Groovy Joe: Dance Party Countdown” and share exciting ideas for bringing this book to life in your classroom.
Learn about how to use the story Groovy Joe Dance Party Countdown in your Music Classroom!
Groovy Joe: Bridging Books and Beats in Music Education
Eric Litwin’s books, especially “Groovy Joe: Dance Party Countdown,” possess a special magnetism for children. The characters are vibrant and relatable, the illustrations are captivating, and the stories themselves pulse with rhythm, patterns, repetition, and engaging call-and-response elements. In our conversation, Eric emphasized his core vision: to create books that ignite a love for reading in children. He meticulously crafts characters that are not only visually appealing but also full of song and smiles, drawing young readers directly into the narrative. Through rhythmic call-and-response and predictable patterns, Groovy Joe invites children to actively participate in the storytelling, anticipating upcoming words and phrases. Whenever I share these books with my students, they instinctively begin to chime in, completing sentences and refrains. For example, when reading, “Eight dogs in the room means less space for Joe. Does Joe get upset?” they can’t help but joyfully shout, “Goodness no!” Groovy Joe even directly engages the reader, fostering a sense of connection and participation. It’s irresistible for kids to get swept up in the fun!
While perfect for early readers and general education classrooms, Groovy Joe also finds a natural home in elementary music settings. My primary music classes are always infused with pattern recognition, call-and-response activities, rhythmic exercises, and movement. I’m constantly seeking fresh ways to teach students to recognize and understand patterns and sequences. Groovy Joe offers a fantastic new avenue for introducing these concepts. Children naturally grasp the story’s rhythm and internalize the repetition, eagerly anticipating what comes next. They start to identify rhyming words, repeated phrases, and consistent rhythms within each line, and even begin to recognize the larger verse/chorus structure as the catchy refrain “Disco Party, BOW WOW” returns throughout the book. These “Countdown Dance Singers,” the dogs in the book, are not just characters; they are rhythmic instructors in disguise!
Learn about how to use the story Groovy Joe Dance Party Countdown in your Music Classroom!
One of the most delightful aspects of “Groovy Joe: Dance Party Countdown” is the arrival of new canine guests, each bearing a different musical instrument. By the end of the book, the party is a symphony of sounds with guitars, a saxophone, a sousaphone, drums, a tambourine, a flute, and even a violin! It’s incredibly valuable for students to see such a diverse range of instruments showcased in a book they adore. I am always on the lookout for visuals, stories, and videos that introduce children to the wide world of musical instruments. Often, books tend to focus on the more conventionally “cool” instruments like electric guitars and drum sets. However, “Dance Party Countdown” exposes children to instruments from marching bands, jazz ensembles, rock bands, and beyond. There’s even a squirrel joining the musical fun with a tambourine! Presenting these instruments in this playful context helps keep them in children’s minds and sparks their imagination about joining musical groups and playing together.
Lesson Plan Grooves with Groovy Joe
“Groovy Joe: Dance Party Countdown” is brimming with potential for elementary music classroom integration. A natural fit is as a supplementary book for primary grades, perfect for a short 5-10 minute story time segment. For instance, I might begin a class with a circle song, transition into a singing game, engage in some rhythm review or pattern work, and then gather students around for story time with Groovy Joe. To set the stage for the book, I would spend a minute or two teaching the chorus through call-and-response. I’d sing “Disco Party” and have the children echo back “Bow Wow!” This simple pattern is quick to teach and instantly prepares students to participate actively when we begin reading. As we move through the story, I can encourage student participation by pausing at points like, “Four more dogs are going to disco with you! How many dogs are there now?” The book’s inherent repetitive patterns naturally prompt children to respond and engage. Be ready for enthusiastic “audience participation” when you share this book!
Learn about how to use the story Groovy Joe Dance Party Countdown in your Music Classroom!
Another fantastic feature of Groovy Joe is the wealth of free online resources available. If you’re reading the book and wondering, “This is fun, but how exactly does that chorus melody go? Guess I’ll have to make something up,” you don’t have to! High-quality, FREE recordings of Eric Litwin himself singing the Groovy Joe chorus and song are readily accessible online (check them out here). You’ll find not only the Groovy Joe song but also full audio recordings of Eric Litwin reading the entire book, complete with singing the chorus parts from beginning to end. Children even join in on the recordings, adding to the lively atmosphere. I often see posts from teachers on social media saying, “Help! I’ve lost my voice but need to teach tomorrow,” or asking for emergency sub lesson ideas. With this book and the downloadable audio files, you have a high-quality resource at your fingertips. The audio recordings are also perfect for music substitutes who may not feel comfortable singing, as the recordings provide all the vocal elements needed.
Here’s another engaging lesson idea for primary grades inspired by Groovy Joe. Arrange a circle of non-pitched percussion instruments (wood blocks, tone blocks, tambourines, etc.—perhaps those instruments that don’t get used as often) and have students stand around the outside of the circle. Use THIS song from the Groovy Joe song downloads as your musical springboard. Whenever the chorus plays, have students pick up an instrument and play along to the steady beat. During the verses, when Joe howls and instrumental breaks occur in the recording, students put down their instruments and walk or dance around the circle. When the singing resumes, they stop moving and pick up a different instrument. This allows students to rotate through various instruments each time they play, experiencing a wider range of sounds and textures.
Academic Harmony: Connecting Music to Core Curriculum
Music educators are frequently asked, or even required, to integrate literacy and math skills into their music lessons. It’s easy to feel resistant, thinking, “But my job is to teach singing and instrument playing, not reading and math!” However, “Groovy Joe” offers a seamless and enjoyable way to bridge these academic disciplines without sacrificing music instruction. Groovy Joe naturally weaves together multiple subject areas, allowing you to reinforce math and reading concepts in a way that enhances, rather than detracts from, your music teaching. “Groovy Joe” reinforces sight words, linear patterns, simple sentence structures, and foundational phonics, all while providing opportunities to encourage singing, instrument playing, pattern recognition, and musical forms like call-and-response.
Beyond academics, “Groovy Joe” also provides a wonderful platform for integrating character education and social skills into your music classroom. “Dance Party Countdown” centers around a party that grows increasingly crowded with each knock at the door. Change and sharing resources can be challenging for young children. Children often find comfort in routine and predictability. However, the heart of this story is about teaching children the joy of sharing, inclusivity, and embracing change. Groovy Joe welcomes every newcomer to his party with open paws, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in the face of changing circumstances. “Eight dogs in the room means less space for Joe. Does Joe get upset?” And just as in the book, your students will respond with an emphatic, “Goodness no!”
Take the Next Step with Groovy Joe
Learn about how to use the story Groovy Joe Dance Party Countdown in your Music Classroom!
The deeper I delve into “Groovy Joe: Dance Party Countdown,” considering its themes and the myriad connections it offers, the more I appreciate the thoughtful creation behind it. It’s evident that Eric Litwin is not just a gifted author but also an insightful educator who crafts books that are age-appropriate, musically rich, sequential, and versatile for classroom use. This book is a valuable addition to any classroom library and can be enjoyed across multiple grade levels.
“Groovy Joe: Dance Party Countdown” is often featured at Scholastic Book Fairs in elementary schools nationwide. You can also find it on the Scholastic website or through online retailers like Amazon.com. While the original book giveaway mentioned earlier has concluded, I highly recommend exploring Eric Litwin’s website and social media for potential future giveaways and updates on his wonderful books. Bring the energetic and educational fun of “countdown dance singers” and Groovy Joe into your classroom and watch your students groove and grow!
