Stars: ****
Thomas Allen & Sons (2011)
Picture Book
32 pages
Summary: Just like there are lots of quiets, there are also lots of louds: Good louds (HOORAY!) and bad louds (CRASH!) And louds that make you feel like you are the center of attention (BURP!). The Loud Book compiles all these kid-friendly noises from morning to night, in a way that is sure to make readers CHEER! – GoodReads
The Loud Book is a follow up to The Quiet Book however I’ve not read that one. You can read either one by itself but it would make a great book set. Perfect for ages 2-5, when kids love to hear their own voice and BE LOUD!
There are many different types of loud which is exactly the point the book makes:
“Surprise Loud, Belly Flop Loud and Bad Crash Loud”
My kids and I had fun learning about the different kinds of loud. There were some more abstract ones I had to explain too like “Deafening Silence Loud.” However I usually tend to make sure they understand what we read in any book so I’m used to explaining things.
The illustrations are by Renata Liwska and are adorable. Soft and muted, perfect for young viewers. My eldest daughter pointed something wrong with one of the illustrations however. The “Good Crash Loud” one shows a bear bowling but he’s standing on the part of the lane you are not supposed to stand on (the slippery part – past the line.) Leave it to my five year old to notice.
“You’re not supposed to stand on that part though mommy.”
She’s got a point.
Links of Interest: Deborah Underwood,
Other Reviews: There’s A Book, 5 Minutes for Books, Shelf Elf (Guest Post),
Buy The Loud Book
Stars: *****
Thomas Allen & Sons (2011)
Children’s Nonfiction
40 Pages
Ages 6+
Summary: At the turn of the nineteenth century, a retired sixty-two-year-old charm school instructor named Annie Edson Taylor, seeking fame and fortune, decided to do something that no one in the world had ever done before—she would go over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel. Come meet the Queen of the Falls and witness with your own eyes her daring ride! – GoodReads
The author of The Polar Express, Jumanji, Just a Dream and many others takes a step away from fantasy to write about history. Chris still manages to deliver a spectacular book that draws the reader in and makes the reader not able to pull away until the book is done.
It’s a mixture of the soft, detailed illustrations and the way the story reads that draw you in. I can’t think of another picture book writer that can accomplish the same thing. This book is a great way to learn about this story and would be great to provoke discussion in a school setting.
Links of Interest: Chris Van Allsburg,
Other Reviews: NONE YET
Buy Queen of the Falls
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