BOOM! BELLOW! BLEAT! by Georgia Heard and Aaron DeWitt

Greetings - we have a winner of this new title - Lynne-Marie.
Thank you everyone, for participating!
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Introducing Georgia Heard's BOOM! BELLOW! BLEAT!

with illustrations by Aaron DeWitt

picture book poem collection + giveaway

 * * * *

By JG Annino

I'm chirpy today with news of a community chorus collected in 

BOOM! BELLOW! BLEAT! 

Animal Poems for Two or More Voices.

This is an inter-active book that blares, whispers and

cajoles with an invitation to Read Aloud. 

Through the poem pages and beyond, nature notes

in this pitch-perfect picture book

invite us into a wild way of communication, some of which

I didn't know existed. You, your students, family, friends

will be baffled, excited and jubilant about questions raised and 

answers given in this clever approach to sharing creature sounds.

I can especially see this title selected by youth chorus directors,

music teachers & and youth musical theater directors, beyond

the family, library and school market.

Poems mentioned here are c.2019 by Georgia Heard

Cricket Arithmetic

Cold pierces evening

crickets crouch in corn stubble-

last chant of the year

chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp

The crickets (channeling Georgia) provide two other poems

and also work on counting (in back-of-book nature notes.)

Right whales offer a deep-sea song,  

elephants speak in their own two voices,

from trunk tip, or, their mouths.

So many other creatures (I counted at least 40) also chime in.

Georgia Heard's spare poems provide room for child readers

(or their older companions) to expressively play the parts of

lungs (frogs, toads,)

swim bladder (some fish,)

claw (snapping shrimp)

to attempt to emulate sounds from origins other than mouths.

I knew a little bit about cricket wings, but not as much as this

book joyfully shares, not did I ever guess much about other body parts

that animal language tumbles from.

I like how illustrator Aaron DeWitt's double spreads

evoke a here and now mood in me, employing an uncluttered

digital painting style that is  transportive,

making me feel as if I am in the scene.

I hope you can read BOOM! BELLOW! BLEAT! soon.

As someone who sometimes writes to pals whatdoyouthink? I melted

at these two ending lines from Georgia Heard's poem, titled

" Bigclaw Snapping Shrimp"

...Fast,fishswimawayfast,

                                                               watchoutforshimp'sbubbleblast!

Call me a punster but I will mention that Georgia heard

the sounds in creating these poems and Aaron illustrates with wit.

You will likely read this book several times to select a favorite

voice, sound, or back story of how specific community chorus members

create their communicating ways. I finish the book and want to begin

again, thinking what a marvelous universe this is.

And no, I'm not identifying the wild individuals who are the source

of the three title sounds. You. Will. Be. Surprised.

- COMMENT here by March 15 for a chance to receive my review copy.

Other Georgia Heard illustrated books for children I am fortunate to

already have on my shelves, include 

FALLING DOWN THE PAGE, which is a collection of  list poems 

and also, THE PLACE I KNOW,  poems of comfort for all of us,

especially students, in these troubled times. More recently I have found

Georgia's guide, WRITING TOWARD HOME and also, 

HEART MAPS and eventually expect to share some discoveries in these 

at Bookseedstudio, my blog. 

Aaron DeWitt also created the huggable art for DREAMING OF YOU 

by Poetry Friday's AmyLudwig VanDerwater, so it's time to meet 

Aaron's work if he is new to you.

  

* * * * 

- Georgia Heard online

You can meet Georgia at a Highlights Foundation workshop

 - Aaron DeWitt (who trained in art, in Florida) is here

(Remember to comment & if you don't want to be included in the give away, just say so.)

Bunny selects a winner! Lynne Marie will receive this title. Let us know your postal address.