Squeak!

by Laura McGee Kvasnosky, Kate Harvey McGee (Contributor)

Who knew that one little noise could set off a whole cacophony? In this chain-reaction story, the animal world wakes up with a squeak !

Early one morning, a gentle breeze tickles the ear of a small mouse, and he wakes up with a squeak! That squeak wakes up the some chipmunks, who rattle tree branches and knock pinecones into the river. Those pinecones wake the trout, who splash around and wake up an elk on the riverbank.

And so goes the story of Squeak! , a chain-reaction story set in a beautiful, rolling landscape with animals who are all woken up one by one with the rising of the sun. With lush and vivid art, and plenty of fun animal noises on each page, this story is a perfect read-aloud to wake up to--or to read any time of day.

Praise for Squeak! :

* "The text is melodic and vivid [and] a joy to read aloud . . . A surefire hit for storytime, one-on-one reading, and gift giving." -- Booklist , *STARRED REVIEW*

*"This adorable circular story for young readers is a great way to start or end the day with a little humor." -- SLJ , *STARRED REVIEW*

"A delightful, onomatopoeic introduction to the interactive sounds of awakening animals." -- Kirkus Reviews

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

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 27, 2019

About the author

Laura McGee Kvasnosky is the author-illustrator of many books for young readers, including the series Zelda & Ivy. She lives in Seattle.

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations made me want to go back to Yellowstone. So many examples of figurative language made me think about how I can use it in the classroom, maybe for a creative writing project. And my kids loved it too!

[Samantha Ledesma · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, I didn't know that it was circular and expected another environmental observation devoid of narrative. That was a pleasant surprise, for sure, but the little girl I was reading with was ready for every sound, which is how I know it was well-loved. I appreciated that the book included more difficult sounds, which children might struggle with sounding out, but that also encourages them to try out new sounds when parroting along.

The thick, dark lines of the illustrations reminded me of older timeless stories. I especially enjoyed the way they filled the page without making any of the aspects of the scene - like the animals, trees, rivers, and more - seem like the background. Everything seemed to be the focal point, making the pages look very busy and fitting the theme of the story.

[Jayne Neville · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute little story with lovely illustrations. The animal noises and nature sounds are fun for kids to imitate. We got this book as part of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and very much enjoyed it.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little mouse is born and ventures outside of its burrow. The mouse not only makes sounds, but many other animals do too! Lovely book with beautiful illustrations.

[Lauren Salisbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love this book. The toddler loves the sounds we make when reading it and the illustrations are lovely.

[Rebecca Gomez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A full-circle story that is full of onomatopoeia and is a delight to read aloud.

[Chelsea Elwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love love love the illustrations!!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

4 stars for the illustrations
3 stars for the story being just a little ... *sigh* a shade too long and dragging just a little

I'm going to try it out for a storytime and see how it goes with the kids. Hoping that they will participate and enjoy it! Hoping that the illustrations alone will charm them.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a summer breeze tickles a little mouse’s ear early one morning, an entire cacophony follows. With one loud squeak, the mouse starts the world waking up. The chipmunks wake up, sending a pine cone into the river. The trout jump. The elk bonks into a tree launching the eagle off. The sound of her huge wings wakes the bears, whose growls wake the wolves. The wolves howl waking the bighorn lamb who leaps high. Finally, the bison bellows and all of the other creatures in the area awaken too. Except for one little mouse, who is now asleep.

The author plays with sounds in this book as they ripple across an ecosystem in this nature-focused read. From the small mouse squeak to the huge bison bellow, all of the sounds are unique and interesting. Children listening to the story will love the chance to howl like wolves, leap like trouts, or fly like eagles along the way. The book is filled with a sense of joy and wonder as the series of noises awaken all of the animals.

The art is done in two steps by the two creators, one who did the black lines and the other who colored them in digitally. The result is almost like stained glass. The sense of the glow of morning light carries through all of the illustrations. They are united by a strong feeling of being in a shared place too.

A great read aloud for a group, expect lots of participation. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is poetic in the sense of sound. The illustrations are simple yet detailed enough where it fits in with the story.

SPOILERS AHEAD:

This book is basically about a mouse who gets woken up and then the story goes on to how a certain sound wakes up the next animal and so forth. In the end, the mouse is wondering why everyone is up so early and goes back to sleep. It's a very anti-climatic story only mentioning the mouse twice, at the beginning, and at the end of the book. I thought with the mouse being on the cover and starting off with a mouse it would be more about the mouse, but it was not. I was low-key disappointed it wasn't about the mouse.

[Laurie Hnatiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A circular book that would be excellent to use as a mentor text for cause and effect and onomatopoeia . A small mouse is awakened by a breeze and lets out a squeak that starts a chain reaction in various habitats. The illustrations are gorgeous and show different habitats as the chain reaction awakens different animals. The various sounds by animals or by the animal actions could be used as to introduce or reinforce onomatopoeia. Another picture book that could be used in a variety of grades across different curricula. A strong addition for collection development or classroom libraries.

[Dana Storytime Account · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The first thing I noticed was how pretty the illustrations were but there are so many aspects to enjoy about this book! From fun noises that make it great for a story time (for a little bit older crowd, it's a tad wordy for super littles) to the interconnectedness that makes it great for a science classroom or nature center to teach about ecosystems and cause-effect. This could also make a great book for understanding sequencing. I definitely hope to incorporate it in to my Stories and Steam sessions soon!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squeak! is an early morning that starts with that one little noise, from one little mouse. From then forward, all the animals in the forest big and small begin to rustle awake and start the day! Lush, cool colors dominate the palette and are so pleasing to the eye; on top of the adorable animals! This picture book truly captures the ambiance of an early morning in the North American woods.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was beautifully illustrated and I love how each scene hinted at the next scene, looked back at the previous scene, or both.
I liked the progression of the book and how it circled back around.
I guess in terms of accuracy not all these animals in here would be woken by the noise that awakes them in here, nor would they all necessarily get up, but that is okay, it is fiction.
I think this is a book I would recommend.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura McGee Kvasnosky creates a wonderful chain-reaction when a small mouse is awakened by a breeze tickling its ear. He squeaks! That sound floats up to the chipmunks' hollow, who skittered while chittering and chattering up into branches of their tree. Then . . . Soon, a whole valley is awake and sounding off. It, with the beautiful colored illustrations outlined in black by Laura's sister Kate Harvey McGee makes a marvelous story to read aloud.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great batch of sounds -- and the idea of a chain reaction is so fun, and that it all began with a squeak. I wish the mice were more visible on the first spread, especially since we began with their squeak (with the title). The text tries a little too hard to be lively, or is somehow at a higher diction than fits the scene. Every time I read this I stumbled through the descriptive parts. Maybe it is a matter of rhythm?

But the WA-WHOOSH and the KA-BONK are perfect.

[Abby Johnson]

Early one morning a breeze tickles the ear of a young mouse and he wakes up with a SQUEAK! that starts a chain reaction, waking all the animals in their valley. This beautifully illustrated morning story features all kinds of woodland/mountain/prairie animals and the sounds they make. It would be fun for a unit on animals, forests, etc.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that the nights are getting a bit cooler, we've been sleeping with the windows open to let in the fresh air. Inevitably, as it gets close to dawn, the natural world starts to wake up. It usually starts with the birds. And then the geese in the neighborhood pond start squawking. Then the dogs start barking. And then I usually get up and go get my coffee. The natural world in this lovely picture book awakens with the tiny squeak of a mouse. But that sets off a chain of awakenings that include chipmunks knocking pinecones into the river, fish splishing and splashing that awaken an elk, which awakens bears and wolves, and so on. The illustrations of the woodland area and its creatures are beautiful. This would be a terrific book to talk to young readers and writers about cause and effect. It also might inspire readers to listen to nature and see what sounds they hear.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rooster usually wakes up the farmyard, but who or what wakes up animals in the woodland and plains?

I was glad to see the use of these animals in this book instead of your typical barnyard animals.

A good story with truly amazing illustrations. The use of color fits perfectly with the time of day this book is set in.

[Brittany Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book uses wonderfully rich and specific vocabulary to describe the sounds and movements of the many animals featured in this book. Chipmunks skitter, bisons bellow, and badgers "churr" as they leave their sett (den) to find breakfast. This lively text would make a great read aloud, particularly as a part of a lesson about using keywords and specialized vocabulary in informational texts.

[Teresa Alpizar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern Fantasy
Kindergarten-1st grade
This picture book gives readers the perspective of animals and nature. The author includes different animals and how their movements create noise that affects other animals and their habitats. This book includes a fun domino-effect that will leave readers intrigued.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the pictures are large and easy to share with a storytime, I found myself seeing if in fact all of the featured animals would be together and who eats cottonwood trees. The scale is off a bit on the chipmunks. This cause and effect book is just satisfactory.

[Lisa]

A mouse wakes up with a "squeak" and sets off a chain reaction as one animal after another also arises. This is an amusing story about forest life with lots of animal sound words that will make it fun to read aloud.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has beautiful illustrations and is a good resource of animals, birds, and fish that you might find in the meadows and mountains. The animals come awake as the little mouse travels through the landscape.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

One little mouse causes a chain event of different animals making lots of big noises. Could be fun for an animal sounds theme or a animals of the forest theme. It's nice and short. I enjoy the illustrations.

[Triston Dutschke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squeak! has amazing pictures throughout the book. It goes through nature as each animal is waking up. Speaking the sounds they they would. Such as a fish splashing water or a wolf howling. Overall, this is a light read but can keep students attention as it offers visuals and animals.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was the book of the month for Dolly Parton's Little Library. It was a kind of cute book with lots of animals. It felt reminiscent of Colorado's wildlife. Honestly one of my least favorite books we've gotten so far.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely nature story, some of the landscapes look like Yellowstone NP! Fabulous paintings of animas from near and far, if you look closely you will see what animal is going to be next. Great examples of onomatopoeia and full circle cause and effect.

[Dustin Dye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squeak! is a delightful little book about in which a mouse's quiet squeak sets of a chain reaction of woodland critter sounds, cycling back to the beginning. Little ones will like pointing out all the animals.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the rustle of the wind blows into a small mouse's ear he wakes with a squeak setting off a chain reaction of sounds as all the other animals sounds made wakes the forest much earlier than anticipated. Filled with onomatopoetic words this book is sure to charm the reader.