Boom! Bellow! Bleat!: animal poems for two or more voices

In 13 short free-verse poems, Heard highlights animal calls, songs, and other noises, from the honking of the geese that fly in opposite directions on facing pages to a rattlesnake's chhhhh-chhhhh-chhhhh and the supersonic snap . . . BANG! of a bigclaw snapping shrimp. The entries (excluding the closing 14-voice Forest Orchestra ) are arranged for two or more readers using a color-coding system and, sometimes, line placement. Some include notes related to the poem's performance for example, an observation that spring peepers sound off in staggered trios, with the deepest voice in the lead and considerably expanded notes for each poem at the end fill in background behavioral facts, as well as identify each animal depicted in most of DeWitt's carefully detailed natural scenes. Though one endnote offers contradictory claims about whether fish have ears, and another counters a noisy chorus of frogs and toads proclaiming, We don't say ribbit! with an admission that the Pacific tree frog actually does, the natural history is generally accurate and dovetails neatly into performer- and audience-pleasing mixes of words and onomatopoetic sound effects.--John Peters Copyright 2019 Booklist

Animals of many kinds describe the sounds that they make in poems intended to be read aloud by two or more readers. Frogs and toads set the record straight about the sounds they make: "I am a frog./ I am a toad./ We don't say ribbit!/ We say.../quonk / waaa/ jug-o-rum/ beeeee/ peep." Other animal subjects include fish, a rattlesnake ("Stay/ away;/ I'm/ warning/ you"). DeWitt's digital collages show fine detail in the animals' features, depicting how their physical characteristics range as widely as their sounds. The use of onomatopoeia all but guarantees a lively group reading experience, while Heard's back matter includes engaging facts about the biodiverse subjects. Ages 5-9. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Kids love to make animal noises.The 13 poems in this collection vary in style, but all rely heavily on accurate animal sounds made by mammals, reptiles, birds, insects, and fish. A "performance key" on the contents page gives instructions for the proper reading by "two or more readers." The poems are printed primarily in two colors, each meant for a reader (or readers) to read alternately, with a third signifying unison. The last poem, "Forest Orchestra," has a different pattern, explained on that page, and could lead to a culminating symphony of sounds. With an adult leader to direct, the poems could become part of a creative performance piece, and use as a home read-aloud could lead to playful adult-child interaction. The bold, digital illustrations have a painterly feel. "Rattlesnake's Warning," with its words printed in white and orange on a black double-page spread, is wonderfully enhanced by a coiled snake with mouth agape and two sharp fangs waiting. This poem is one of the more powerful, with its short verses: "By night, / I see your heat / as I slither / near your feet" punctuated by the "chhhhhh-chhhhhh-chhhhhh" sound of the rattle. Fascinating closing notes offer opportunities for caregivers to extend the instruction, but children aren't likely to peruse these dense pages.In the hands of the right presenter, this book could lead to exciting aural experiences. (Picture book/poetry. 6-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In 13 short free-verse poems, Heard highlights animal calls, songs, and other noises, from the honking of the geese that fly in opposite directions on facing pages to a rattlesnake's "chhhhh-chhhhh-chhhhh" and the supersonic "snap . . . BANG!" of a bigclaw snapping shrimp. The entries (excluding the closing 14-voice "Forest Orchestra") are arranged for two or more readers using a color-coding system and, sometimes, line placement. Some include notes related to the poem's performance—for example, an observation that spring peepers sound off in staggered trios, with the deepest voice in the lead—and considerably expanded notes for each poem at the end fill in background behavioral facts, as well as identify each animal depicted in most of DeWitt's carefully detailed natural scenes. Though one endnote offers contradictory claims about whether fish have ears, and another counters a noisy chorus of frogs and toads proclaiming, "We don't say ribbit!" with an admission that the Pacific tree frog actually does, the natural history is generally accurate and dovetails neatly into performer- and audience-pleasing mixes of words and onomatopoetic sound effects. Grades 1-4. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.

Animals of many kinds describe the sounds that they make in poems intended to be read aloud by two or more readers. Frogs and toads set the record straight about the sounds they make: "I am a frog./ I am a toad./ We don't say ribbit!/ We say.../quonk / waaa/ jug-o-rum/ beeeee/ peep." Other animal subjects include fish, a rattlesnake ("Stay/ away;/ I'm/ warning/ you"). DeWitt's digital collages show fine detail in the animals' features, depicting how their physical characteristics range as widely as their sounds. The use of onomatopoeia all but guarantees a lively group reading experience, while Heard's back matter includes engaging facts about the biodiverse subjects. Ages 5–9. (Mar.)