Crunch and Crack, Oink and Whack!

December 15, 2018
Cleary expands his language arts books with this look at onomatopoeia.Mrs. Garcia's class is ready and eager for the day: butterfly nets, cameras, notebooks, magnifying glasses, and headwear that includes both deerstalker caps and pith helmets. "One day every year, the students go out on a hunt-- / a favorite exercise of Mrs. Garcia-- / to search the grounds and school / for something interesting and cool: / it's what is known as onomatopoeia." This abccb pattern makes for a tough read-aloud, as the meter and rhythm are off. But Cleary certainly gets points for enthusiasm and establishes himself as a credible contender for the record for most onomatopoeic words in one picture book. Set off in all-caps and a colored display type, each "SNAP," "CLANG," "FLUTTER," and "WHIRR" stands out. The kids, a highly diverse group (two different brown-skinned girls depicted wear the hijab), go through and around the school visiting all the different classrooms and areas and collecting sounds--the gym, the science lab, the farm next door, the music room, even the bathroom ("FLUSH," "TINKLE!"). But the exuberant book ends on a rather abrupt, even dampening note when the principal, certain the students who are sharing their words so loudly and enthusiastically are misbehaving, gives them one final one for their collection: "SHOOSH!" Pino's pencil and Photoshop illustration are bright, detailed, and busy. Readers will find lots to pore over.Sure to cause a BUZZ in classes, provided the teacher can get through reading it aloud. (Picture book. 5-8)

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June 14, 2019

Gr 2-4-This series title depicts a group of students on a schoolwide scavenger hunt for examples of onomatopoeia, defined as "the naming of a thing or an action by imitating or mimicking its sound, as in BEEP, MOO, and SPLASH." The text incorporates an unusual rhyme scheme as well as many examples of onomatopoeia: animal and nature sounds as students explore nearby farmland; mechanical sounds from a workshop; and sounds from a band class, gymnasium, and science lab. The examples in the text are emphasized with color and a bold, stylized font. The back matter includes lists of examples as well as suggestions for further reading. While the story of the word hunt is secondary to the exploration of the sounds of words, the illustrations use pencil with digital coloring and depict both students and teachers. The chaos of each scene reinforces the noisy nature of the text and includes humorous details such as a leaky sink in the restroom and explosions in the science room. The characters are expressive and showcase dynamic movement. VERDICT The emphasis placed on the sounds of words and the rhythm of the language is naturally suited for reading aloud, while the content works well for elementary students learning about the parts of speech.-Kelly Topita, Anne Arundel County Public Library, MD

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2019
Grades 1-4 At the Clip-Clop Country School for Girls and Boys, Onomatopoeia Day comes once a year. Every year, the students in Ms. Garcia's class get to search around the school for onomatopoeias?a word whose name imitates the sound it makes. In the workshop, they find buzz and whirr?; in the band room, they hear rat-tat-tat and boom; in the science lab, they encounter gurgle and hiss. When the day gets too exciting, an onomatopoeia finds them: the principal sticks her head in Ms. Garcia's door and says, "SHOOSH!" Pino's boldly colored, energetic illustrations showcase kids from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, having fun while learning. The in-text onomatopoeia themselves are clearly marked, and back matter is thorough and well laid out. The rhyme and rhythm of the text doesn't always scan, which could make this a challenge to read aloud?an unfortunate quirk, given the subject matter. Still, the story itself is abundantly classroom friendly, and this is a good thematic companion for Cleary's other grammar and language arts-themed picture books.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)