Can you whoo too?

PreS-Gr 1-An interesting blend of fiction and nonfiction that encourages young readers to make animal sounds while explaining why the animals make those sounds. Short, interactive phrases appear on traditional picture book pages ("Cows moo. How about you?"), while chatty informative text runs down a long yellow sidebar ("Cows will only moo to tell other cows that it is time to eat, to find other cows if she finds herself alone, or if she cannot see her calf."). No source notes are included. Fatus's artwork will draw in young readers; the full-page acrylic and collage illustrations are bright and inviting. VERDICT A good addition for one-on-one sharing with young readers who are always asking "why."-Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Ziefert and Fatus explore and interpret familiar animal sounds. Squarely in the growing genre of bilevel informational picture books, it combines simple text overlaid on the humorous collage-style illustrations with more advanced marginal notes intended to appeal to older children who want in-depth information. The very young can simply enjoy the colorful spreads with their simple rhymes: "Horses neigh. Donkeys bray. Mice squeak. Eek! Eek!" and older kids can satisfy their natural curiosity with the relatively complex marginal text. A wide range of animals from barnyard to jungle is illustrated, from cows through owls, whales, monkeys, sheep, lions, pigs, deer, geese, horses, and snakes. And be ready for surprises.How many readers knew that moose honk, just like geese? The marginal notes encourage readers to analyze the motive behind animal language, to make comparisons with human speech, and to think about animal and human body language and habits. Readers learn that snakes only make a sound when they're angry, so the author asks them to think about noises they make when they're angry and whether the angry sound is louder than a happy sound. This could spark an interesting discussion among preschoolers about the meaning of animal language and how thoughts, feelings, and desires are conveyed through speech, whether animal or human. Attractive, unusual, and unexpectedly informative. (Informational picture book. 2-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.