Good Vibrations

In this illustrated picture book version of the beloved Beach Boys’ Billboard number one song, “Good Vibrations,” a dog grooves out about the good vibrations of its owner. “I love the colorful clothes she wears / And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair” sings the dog from its doghouse while a beach-going surfer girl dons a turquoise sun hat. The girl is depicted in various scenes spreading good vibrations, like serving an old woman and using her surfboard to help birds cross a chasm. When it comes to lyrics, there are actually only three short verses that don’t translate to story very clearly. Other than that, many pages are filled with things like “bop,” “oom,” and “na.” Readers who know the song by heart will likely enjoy singing this book aloud, and Hoppe’s decision to tell the story from a dog’s point of view is an interesting, unexpected approach. But with all the “ooms” and “na na nas,” those less familiar will lose track of where in the song they are and will ultimately tire of the pages of “bops,” despite the creative illustrations depicting all kinds of fun, random things: green aliens, pig headed men, and singing cacti.