A string of comically stylized animals greet each other in masterfully rhyming couplets—an owl's "hoo" is answered by a cow's "moo"; a crow's "caw" is returned with a donkey's "hee-haw"—all leading up to the "hi!" and "good-bye!" of a human toddler and his mom! The first in a brand-new board book series on animal (and human) first words by award-winning author and illustrator Ethan Long.
April 13, 2015
More than a dozen animals salute each other with rhyming exclamations in a typically quirky offering from Long. In facing single-page vignettes, the animals smile and wave at each other: âChirp!â says a red bird, perched on its birdhouse. âSlurp!â responds a fuzzy anteater, its snout deep in an anthill. Elsewhere, a polar bearâs âGrowl!â is met by a wolfâs âHowl,â and a crowâs âCaw!â by a bucking, bucktoothed donkeyâs âHee-haw!â Zoological accuracy isnât exactly the point (Do yaks really say âyakâ?), but this friendly chain of greetings and Longâs bright, spongy-edged digital illustrations create an infectious sense of good cheer. Up to age 2.
A clever, deceptively simple board book introduces animal sounds. Long's board-book debut proves again that he understands children and what appeals to them. With just one animal per page, each with a one-word salutation, this is a board book that will speak to very young children. The greeting for each animal rhymes with that of the critter on the facing page (the owl's "Hoo" rhymes with the cow's "Moo," for instance). Sometimes the rhymes are a bit of a stretch-cat's "Meow" and dog's "Bowwow"-but since the cat and dog are often associated, it works. It also is perfect preschool logic that the duck's "Quack" would rhyme with the yak's "Yak"-and who really knows what other word a yak would use when saying hello? The illustrations are simple, stylized versions of each animal. Each picture gives a bit more information about habitat or diet, without cluttering the pages with extra words. Long brings it full circle, as a dove's "Coo" rhymes with the owl's "Hoo." An additional spread shows all the animals without the words, so children can show off the sounds they remember. The final page shows a child saying, "Hi," to his mom, who picks him up before she says, "Good-bye," to the reader. A completely satisfying, age-appropriate package. (Board book. 6 mos.-2)
July 1, 2015
Baby/Toddler-Wide-eyed animals call and answer in these brightly colored volumes, giving kids ample opportunity for learning and trying out animal sounds. In Good Night!, baby creatures and their grownup counterparts get ready for bedtime by saying good night in their own animal sound. In Hi!, they greet each other. Each volume's penultimate spread presents all of the creatures interacting with a human child. The last page features a toddler and a parent. Pleasant offerings.
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from July 1, 2015
A clever, deceptively simple board book introduces animal sounds. Long's board-book debut proves again that he understands children and what appeals to them. With just one animal per page, each with a one-word salutation, this is a board book that will speak to very young children. The greeting for each animal rhymes with that of the critter on the facing page (the owl's "Hoo" rhymes with the cow's "Moo," for instance). Sometimes the rhymes are a bit of a stretch-cat's "Meow" and dog's "Bowwow"-but since the cat and dog are often associated, it works. It also is perfect preschool logic that the duck's "Quack" would rhyme with the yak's "Yak"-and who really knows what other word a yak would use when saying hello? The illustrations are simple, stylized versions of each animal. Each picture gives a bit more information about habitat or diet, without cluttering the pages with extra words. Long brings it full circle, as a dove's "Coo" rhymes with the owl's "Hoo." An additional spread shows all the animals without the words, so children can show off the sounds they remember. The final page shows a child saying, "Hi," to his mom, who picks him up before she says, "Good-bye," to the reader. A completely satisfying, age-appropriate package. (Board book. 6 mos.-2)
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