Chirp: Even the smallest of birds have a powerful voice - the perfect gift for 2-5 year olds

by Mary Murphy

We all have a song! We all have something to say! We all get to shout out for a brand new day! We all have a voice and a song to sing! In this joyful, rhythmical picture book, Mary Murphy brings to life the beauty of the dawn chorus and shows that even the smallest of birds - and the littlest of readers - have a powerful voice. With stunning graphic artwork set against a rainbow of sky colour, Chirp heralds a new day and new beginnings.

Genres: Picture Books, Birds, Storytime, Animals, Childrens, Nature, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

Published February 2, 2023

About the author

Children's author and illustrator Mary Murphy enchants even the youngest of readers with her bold style, combining eye-catching graphics and a bouncy text that seemingly jump off the pages.

Mary Murphy has an advanced diploma in Visual Communications and has written and illustrated a number of children's books, including her lift-the-flap, pull-the-tab book about friendship, ROXIE AND BO TOGETHER. In addition to creating children's books, she teaches illustration. The author-illustrator lives in Galway, Ireland.

Reviews

[Vera Godley · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first got hearing aids, I was amazed that I could hear the birds! What a wonderful hearing experience. I now have 3 bird feeders and a couple of suet block perches for the birds and I love to watch and listen to their melodies. Alas, I can not hear well enough to differentiate their individual songs and thus identify them by their chirps. My daughter-in-law also has bird feeders and a wonderful camera to capture their images. She also has a wonderful sense of hearing and can identify them by their individual songs.

In this brightly colored book the child can enjoy how the various birds begin the day with their own chirp, voice, song greeting the day. A nice introduction for a child to enjoy the songs, sounds, and variety of birds in our world.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

[Cathy Ogren · Rating 4 out of 5]

As night slowly fades away, the birds greet the new day with their songs. As more and more birds join the chorus, the sounds get louder and louder until one small bird hushes them so he, too, can greet the day with his song. Rhyming text and onomatopoeias fill the pages of the book, creating an entertaining experience for readers.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

As night becomes day the different birds all great it with their different sounds. A fun book to use in story time and have the kids imitate the birds. (No real story line, but great for toddlers).

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ages 3-6 A myriad of birds gradually awaken the new day with their unique songs, each spelled out in onomatopoeia voices.
Strengths: The bold colors and design of the cover artwork will attract readers. The birds are initially silhouetted against the deep blue background with a large white moon, but as the morning emerges that background changes until it is a brilliant yellow. As the sun comes up, the cacophony of bird songs fills the page. At last, the little blue bird, who stands out since the others are variations of black, white, brown and red, and tells them it is her turn to sing, which she does with gusto. There is a simple, upbeat, and meaningful message for young children that all voices deserve to be heard. A classroom teacher or music teacher could make use the onomatopoeia words and children will enjoy making the sounds. It might also raise awareness about the songs of birds in nature.
Weaknesses: The binding of the book will not hold up with repeated use in a library.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The birds each have a song to sing, and they bring in the new day with their chirping and cheeping. But one bluebird asks for some quiet, so they can have their own turn to sing their own individual song. Each voice is important in the bird music they create to welcome the day!

This is such a cute book full of marvelous bird sounds warbling, chirping, whistling, and honking. I really like the positive messages of each bird having their own song, but they sing together and take time to listen to one another as well.

The illustrations are really cute! I like the minimalist style and the changing colors in the background as the sky gradually lightens as the sun rises.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Eve Costarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover art with its cheery blue bird atop a fiery sun immediately pulls you into this authentic and endearing book. With its simple words and bright illustrations, I adored the great representation of the varied onomatopoeia of each bird’s call and their uniqueness yet harmonious resonance. This book resoundingly offers the affirmations “Be brave! Be yourself! Be harmonious!” This is also a great dance along with a storybook that can have kids bouncing, twittering, marching and coo-coo-cooing. I really love the bright color palette juxtaposed with the bold balck highlights. Really makes them pop and engage the eyes.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the moon goes down and the sun comes up, it all begins with a little chirp. Soon enough, you might hear even more feathered friends pipe in their morning greetings with a warble, a quack, or even a rooster's boisterous morning crow. Chirp highlights the gradual sounds of an emerging morning from the perspective of the world's early birds.

[LS Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Mary Murphy's picture books and this one is no exception. I'm not familiar with a lot of picture books with this subject - the start of the day. We all hear that one bird in the morning when it's still looks dark outside. This book describes and portrays that process and it is wonderful.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A celebration of the birds' dawn song. Lots of sound-making opportunities make this a good choice for a bird storytime. I ended up reading this 3 times: once for the words/sounds of each of the birds, once to see the gradual lightening of the background shades, and once to pick out the little blue bird on each page before she jumps up at the end and demands to be heard herself. Zippee!

[Binxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me smile and decide by the third or fourth page to share it with families this summer. Love, love, love the way the colors emerge as dawn approaches. The amount of text and the rhythm and rhyme within it will make for a melodic reading. Just glancing over at the cover, once again a smile found its way to me.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each bird makes a different sound as the night leads into the day. This would be good for STEAM program about birds for young ones. After reading the book, you could pull up videos of these different birds making their sounds. Also, a good one to show that each of us is different and all those differences together are beautiful.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read-aloud potential. Would pair well with Good-Night, Owl! for a bird sounds storytime.

[Jeanine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Introduces names for different types of birds, but the sounds that they put with them are not always very helpful. May be engaging for children because of the bold graphics and funny sounds, but not very educational.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️ Mary Murphy's books.
Bright bold illustrations, fun sounds, and rhyming text make for a great readaloud that will help build phonological awareness in young listeners. And it's fun to look for the little bluebird on every spread.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, oh, my heart. I want to read this to my little children so badly... but they're all grown up now! I hope you share it with yours. Expose them to the names and calls & songs of lots of different birds.

[Dylan Teut · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read aloud with many sounds and onomatopoeia.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would be god for storytime with all the bird sounds

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is fine. Birds all make noise and then cause a ruckus. One little bird takes a turn, and then everyone takes their chance to make noise. Not a thrill, but the illustrations are nice.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bird calls and rhyming text with bright illustrations.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brightly illustrated featuring different birds and their sounds.

[SamSamSam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the high-contrast illustrations. 3 stars because this book isn't exactly novel. Phonological awareness, print awareness.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each bird gives voice to its own joyful song in celebration of the turning of a new day.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how the illustrations revolve around a night theme.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book if looking for the different sounds and calls birds make.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An early morning bird chorus, which will encourage a lot of noisy audience participation.

[Pamela Groseclose]

Another book perfect for syorytime by Murphy.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of bird noises and nicely contrasting illustrations.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different bird sounds through the night. Chance to all do together

[Alissa Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, engaging book about the sounds you'll hear when listening to birds.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book about birds and their distinct songs.