Boom! Bellow! Bleat!: Animal Poems for Two or More Voices - Hardcover

"Thirteen playful poems give young performers a chance to noisily shine as they explore the denizens of the wild. Poems are highly evocative...and many poems include notes to further guide readers in maximizing the mimicry (and the fun). The result is an opportunity for some startlingly effective natural noises, lively poetry, and glorious chaos...DeWitt also offers some elegant and dramatic spreads...Following in the estimable footsteps of Paul Fleischman, this work offers an irresistible invitation to its audience to join in the woooooooo, pzzzz pzzzz pzzzz, and peep of the natural world." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review "Kids love to make animal noises. The 13 poems in this collection vary in style, but all rely heavily on accurate animal sounds...(t)he 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. Fascinating closing notes offer opportunities for caregivers to extend the instruction. In the hands of the right presenter, this book could lead to exciting aural experiences." - Kirkus Reviews

This playful collection of poems--peppered with an astounding variety of animal sounds--is meant to be read aloud together. These poems for two or more voices explore the myriad sounds animals make--from a frog's jug-o-rum to a fish's boom! to an elephant's bark. Laced with humor, the poems are a delight to read aloud and cover all major classes of animals: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, even a crustacean! Readers will learn how to estimate the temperature by counting a cricket's chirps and see how creatures make sounds at specific pitches and frequencies, so that they can be heard despite other noise around them. Extensive end notes provide more information on the animals and how and why they make the sounds they do. Written by noted children's poet Georgia Heard, this is an ideal collection for parents and children to share, or for a fun, interactive classroom read-aloud.