The Very Quiet Cricket (Avenues)

Specifications

About this product

Amazon.com Review A cricket is born who cannot talk! A bigger cricket welcomes him to the world, then a locust, a cicada, and many other insects, but each time the tiny cricket rubs his wings together in vain: no sound emerges. In the end, however, he meets another quiet cricket, and manages to find his "voice." Children will love the repetitive text as they meet a steady parade of new creatures (including a "spittlebug, slurping in a sea of froth"); and of course they'll delight in the happy ending. This is one of a series of large (11.5 by 8.5 inches) format Eric Carle books with a mechanical twist: in this case, the quiet cricket bursts into (surprisingly authentic) electronic song as you turn the last page. (The battery is replaceable.) An amusement for the ears, but most of all--as ever, with Carle--a feast for the eyes. The colorful cut-paper illustrations are simply gorgeous, drawing you in even on the hundredth reading. (And there will be a hundredth reading, followed by many more.) (Baby to preschool) --Richard Farr From Publishers Weekly A small cricket hatches "one warm day," and the other insects greet him. Though the little guy wants very much to respond, nothing happens when he rubs his wings together. Finally, as night falls, he spies another cricket and attempts to greet her. "And this time . . . he chirped the most beautiful sound that she had ever heard." As usual, Carle's art is lovely and his story is simple and satisfying. But this book has something The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Busy Spider didn't have: an electronic chirping mechanism activated by the turning of the last page. Though the surprisingly realistic noise may get on parents' nerves, it will certainly intrigue and entertain its intended audience. Ages 3-6. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 1-- Carle has created yet another celebration of nature. Ironically, it relies upon a high-tech gadget. When a baby cricket is born, a big cricket rubs his wings together to chirp "Welcome!" The little cricket attempts to reply, but there is no sound. On each double-page spread, the young creature encounters a variety of insects, but is unable to produce a sound to respond to their greetings. Finally, he comes upon another cricket, rubs his wings together, and chirps. Readers are then rewarded with a mechanically produced cricket's "chirp." Typical of Carle's style, the language is simple, with rhythm, repetition, and alliteration to delight young listeners. Painted collage illustrations are lavish and expressive. Unfortunately, while Carle takes full advantage of the opportunity presented by technology, he does so at the expense of the story. Although the attempt to provide a multisensory experience is an admirable one, he relies too heavily on gimmickry. The sound produced is not so much enhancement for the plot as it is essential to the resolution. Without it, the final outcome is flat and anticlimactic, and the text becomes tediously repetitive. Although the publisher promises that the "cricket's chirp will have a long life" if the book is closed after reading, it is difficult to gauge its life span in library circulation. The book is sure to attract a large audience, but readers who come to it after the novelty has worn off will be disappointed. --Starr LaTronica, North Berkeley Library, CACopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. Review Praise for The Very Quiet Cricket : "Typical of Carle's style, the language is simple, with rhythm, repetition, and alliteration to delight young listeners. Painted collage illustrations are lavish and expressive."-- School Library Journal "The text is skillfully shaped; the illustrations convey energy and immediacy."-- Horn Book "As usual, Carle's art is lovely and his story is simple and satisfying."-- Publishers Weekly "Carle's signature style ensures that this is a visual standout, and storywise it's appealing, too....The spare text is structured by repetitive phrasing that will lend itself to read-aloud responses."-- Booklist About the Author Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar , has been translated into 70 languages and sold over 55 million copies. Carle illustrated more than seventy books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote, and more than 170 million copies of his books have sold around the world. In 2003, Carle received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (now called the Children’s Literature Legacy Award) for lifetime achievement in children's literature. In 2002, Eric and his wife, Barbara, cofounded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (www.carlemuseum.org) in Amherst, Massachusetts, a 40,000-square-foot space dedicated to the celebration of picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world, underscoring the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of picture books and their art form. Eric Carle passed away in May 2021 at the age of 91. His work remains an important influence on artists and illustrators at work today. www.eric-carle.com Read more