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Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Loud Book, written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Renata Liwska. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Thomas Allen & Son. 2011. $14.99 ages 2 and up




"There are lots of louds:

alarm clock loud
home run loud
candy wrappers loud"



Oh, I LOVED The Quiet Book (Houghton, 2010) and I eagerly anticipated its companion. This time the noise is LOUD and I have to tell you I LOVE this book, too!

Kids will love it, as will the adults who share it with them.Think of the possibilities, once imaginations are given free rein to keep the fun going. It doesn't take them long to discover that some sounds they would describe as quiet can be quite loud, given the right context. What about 'deafening silence loud'? Wait until you see the accompanying illustration. Perfect!

Have you been bothered by 'candy wrapper loud' while you are trying to listen to a concert or 'popcorn eating loud' when you are at the movie? Do you see where she's going with it? The noise of unwrapping a candy wouldn't bother anyone on a schoolyard or at the park. But, you've been there when someone is trying oh, so carefully to open a cough mint in the midst of a theatrical performance...LOUD!

It's fun, it's thought-provoking, it's discussion prompting and it will allow little ones to try out their 'loud' in the same way they tried out their 'quiet' the first time around. What more can we ask? Now, get checking it out for loud sounds of your own...in the house, in the springtime backyard, on the street, at the mall....you get it!
It's for everyone. Get out there and explore your world!

The careful and delightful pairing of language and art is outstanding. These collaborators are to be much admired for their talents and their ability to create tiny perfect gems that will always have a place on my 'keeper' shelf.

Did you think she could do it? Well, she proves most decisively that she can and did! The LOUD book is as much fun as The Quiet Book; and maybe even more so, since I am pretty loud myself!

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