Perma-Bound from Publisher's Hardcover ©2017 | -- |
Publisher's Hardcover ©2017 | -- |
Animal sounds. Juvenile literature.
Animal communication. Juvenile literature.
Animal sounds.
Animal communication.
Barks, grunts, squeals, whines, bellows, growls, and laughs—all kinds of animals use all kinds of sounds to communicate.This collection of animal vocalizations will delight readers and listeners. Prolific science writer Stewart always chooses appealing facts, but what makes this collection work so well is the skillful presentation by both author and illustrator. There's a question: "Can an aardvark bark?" And an answer: "No, but it can grunt." A short paragraph tells when and why it makes that sound. The next spread reveals some different grunting species and what their grunts might mean. The next two spreads introduce barks and squeals. Just when listeners or readers begin to see a pattern of question and answer, it's disrupted: "Can a porcupine whine? Why yes, it can!" The surprise adds just enough tension to keep the audience going through growls, bellows, and laughs. A final page asks listeners and readers if they can make the same noises. Jenkins' characteristic cut-and-torn-paper collages are a perfect accompaniment. These sharp-edged, accurate images, set on plain white backgrounds, show beautifully. The highlighted animals—aardvark, New Zealand fur seal, wild boar, porcupine, dingo, giraffe, and kangaroo—are shown on double-page spreads, each followed by four other, equally interesting species. The final page includes portraits, an invitation for identification. Don't share this engaging read-aloud in a quiet library. (Informational picture book. 2-8)
ALA Booklist (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)Using a question-and-answer format that employs internal rhymes, Stewart and Jenkins enlighten readers about animal utterances. "Can an aardvark bark? No, but it can grunt," Stewart informs us. She follows up with a paragraph of supplementary aardvark facts and an additional spread itemizing other grunting animals. Most subsequent Q&As reference previous questions ("Can a seal squeal? No, but it can bark"), excepting the answer for porcupines, who can indeed whine. Jenkins' signature cut-and-torn-paper-collage illustrations seem to jump off the page. They are at once boldly simple (set against white backgrounds) and amazingly detailed (a result of the varied textures used). Multiple type sizes add to the book's versatility. Toddlers will enjoy the large-print Q&As, while older children will appreciate the informative paragraphs presented in smaller font. And while there's much to be gleaned about familiar and esoteric species (who knew a giraffe could bellow?), the final spread, encouraging listeners to let loose their own laughs, grunts, bellows, and growls, provides the perfect excuse for toddler participation.
Horn BookAnimal sounds are the focus of this high-interest book populated with Jenkins's arresting cut-paper animal collages, strikingly placed against plain white backgrounds. So "can an aardvark bark?" No, it grunts, and other animals grunt, too. In the what and why of squeals, bellows, and growls we detect the greetings, warnings, and territorial assertions of animal communication.
Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)Barks, grunts, squeals, whines, bellows, growls, and laughs—all kinds of animals use all kinds of sounds to communicate.This collection of animal vocalizations will delight readers and listeners. Prolific science writer Stewart always chooses appealing facts, but what makes this collection work so well is the skillful presentation by both author and illustrator. There's a question: "Can an aardvark bark?" And an answer: "No, but it can grunt." A short paragraph tells when and why it makes that sound. The next spread reveals some different grunting species and what their grunts might mean. The next two spreads introduce barks and squeals. Just when listeners or readers begin to see a pattern of question and answer, it's disrupted: "Can a porcupine whine? Why yes, it can!" The surprise adds just enough tension to keep the audience going through growls, bellows, and laughs. A final page asks listeners and readers if they can make the same noises. Jenkins' characteristic cut-and-torn-paper collages are a perfect accompaniment. These sharp-edged, accurate images, set on plain white backgrounds, show beautifully. The highlighted animals—aardvark, New Zealand fur seal, wild boar, porcupine, dingo, giraffe, and kangaroo—are shown on double-page spreads, each followed by four other, equally interesting species. The final page includes portraits, an invitation for identification. Don't share this engaging read-aloud in a quiet library. (Informational picture book. 2-8)
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)Stewart (
K-Gr 3Students will be surprised to learn that though an aardvark can't bark, it can grunt. Stewart opens every other spread with a query about what noise an animal might make ("Can a dingo bellow? No, but it can growl."). After answering, the author organizes groups of creatures that make similar sounds on the following spread, often with surprising results (platypuses will softly growl when disturbed). These groupings are fascinating for their diversity, and noises covered include greetings, sounds made out of fear or to attract food, and mating calls. Jenkins's cut and torn paper illustrations provide not only texture but also an incredible amount of detail. For instance, students can almost count every quill on the African crested porcupine. Overall, the layout is smart, as animal names are in boldface and the communication style (growl, hiss, etc.) is in a larger font size, signaling its importance. VERDICT A terrific title for elementary-age kids to help them draw comparisons between animals and soundslibraries can't go wrong.Susan E. Murray, formerly at Glendale Public Library, AZ
Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews
ALA Booklist (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Horn Book
Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)
National Science Teachers Association Outstanding Science Trade
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
School Library Journal (Mon May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)
Wilson's Children's Catalog
From award-winning author Melissa Stewart and Caldecott honoree Steve Jenkins comes a noisy nonfiction exploration of the many sounds animals make.
Can an aardvark bark? No, but it can grunt. Lots of other animals grunt too…
Barks, grunts, squeals—animals make all kinds of sounds to communicate and express themselves. With a growling salamander and a whining porcupine, bellowing giraffes and laughing gorillas, this boisterous book is chock-full of fun and interesting facts and is sure to be a favorite of even the youngest animal enthusiasts.