Peep!: A Little Book About Taking a Leap

by Maria van Lieshout

Peep is out for a walk with his mother and sisters. When they hop off a steep curb, Peep freezes. It's too high! He just can't do it!

 

Will peep overcome his fear and take a leap?

 

This gentle tale is perfect for anyone facing a challenge big or small.

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

48 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2009

About the author

Maria was born and raised in the Netherlands, and studied graphic design at George Washington University in DC. Maria's historical graphic novel Song of a Blackbird, about a female artist in the Amsterdam resistance during WWII, was awarded the Michael L. Printz Award Honor and it was longlisted for the National Book Award.
www.vanlieshoutstudio.com for more information.

Reviews

[N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ug, nice "Great for Grads" sticker on the cover. Hoping for a spot next to Oh the Places You'll Go in bookstores?

I liked the use of color in the illustrations, and the hesitant little chick was sort of cute, but didn't really win me over.

[Amani Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book showed how to "take a leap" but it was a little boring at times

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one little chick who discovers that he has the courage to do anything he sets his mind to! Easy read too.

[Kristen Thorp · Rating 4 out of 5]

165/365

[Cecile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this for my recent college grad, but my preschooler loves it.

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chick's so cute.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books that practically leap off the shelf when you see them in the store. "PEEP A Little Book About Taking a Leap" is one such title. The drawings, smudges and scratches of color with simple lines to define the scene, perfectly suit the main character's mood in each delightful spread of this deceptively simple book, as Peep the chick tries to muster the courage to plunge from the curb and into his life. The sticker on front of the book says "great for grads" and indeed this will likely join "Oh, The Places You'll Go" as a favorite gift for those young men and women taking the leap from school days to real life. And the end of the story is a hilarious reminder of the universal truth that one obstacle overcome does not guarantee a completely clear path.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little chick is scared about jumping off a curb. With a little encouragement and support from Mom and siblings he does it. Ending picture hints at the next hurdle to overcome. Wonderful interjections, however, due to the size of the book this is best for small groups or one on one. 4/22/14

Since my the day care didn't come I was able to use this for story time. Even though the kids were a little young the peeps and tic tocs... seemed to keep their attention. 3/31/15

Was a huge hit in story time.

[Dolly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book came highly recommended and I've had it on my to-read shelf for quite a long time. So I was eagerly anticipating reading it with our girls. All I can say, though, is, "meh." It was okay, but nothing to crow about. The story shows a mom encouraging her little one to take a big leap (literally) and she gives him encouragement when he gets scared. So it's a nice tale, but the short narrative and line and scribble illustrations really didn't do it for me.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love PEEP!
The children in my preschool love Peep, too! It is very popular all day in our cozy corner, and especially at drop off time when parents read a story and head off to work. One child chose this book practically every morning for an entire school year, for his mom or dad to read to him before saying good-bye for the day. Peep is sweet, funny, full of emotion, and very reassuring, just right for young children making their own brave leaps into the world!

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why exactly do we even care about Peep the chick and his leap off the curb? There are too many weird things about this book. The illustrations. The creepy green balloon and its loud pop. The scribbly illustrations that look like someone's doodles. This seems like some sort of vanity project that was picked up and published, but I don't know why. I usually hate children's picture books with an obvious message. I hate this book.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the artwork style, with watercolor conveying movement. The bright yellow of the book is so awfully cheery! I liked how only Peep was yellow -- it draws your eye to him and emphasizes the casualness of the other chicks ability to hop down and up. You know that feeling when you're afraid of something and it seems like everybody else is so confident and has never been afraid in their life? Somehow the artwork conveys that, which is pretty cool.

[Emmeline Guest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing, yet simply, illustrations guide this book-of-few-words. Crayola Crayon inspired drawings express the emotions - fear, bravery, triumph, of a little yellow chick, scared to follow his family, and take a (BIG) step off the sidewalk.

Perfect for discussing fear (bravery, pride) with preschoolers!

[Gianna Marino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite little books. Who cannot relate to this little chick trying to take that big leap in life? Everyone can feel what little peep is feeling.

Maria is so clever with her simple, expressive illustrations and text that fits right in place with her splashes of color.

tictoctictoc... read this book, you will fall in love with it!

[Acton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peep is a book about courage. In the book, a momma chicken is leading her baby chicks along a sidewalk. One of the chicks is named Peep. His brothers and sisters all jump off of a curb, but Peep is too scared. So, he waits there for a little while and then gets enough courage to jump. It was a good book.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple book with appeal for the very young, but it also transmits a strong message about facing our fears and challenges. A blurb on the cover says it's a great graduation gift, and I agree. Also ideal to use at the end of a school year, celebrating successes and reassuring about readiness for new challenges.

[Sabrina Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a simple book about a chick having doubts about what he can do. His mom and sisters encouraged him to do it and he did. I like the simple message of encouragement and the illustrations were simple and easy to follow.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

age 3 and up. Great story for dialogic reading and having conversations with children because the story can be related to their own experiences. Children can imitate some of the sounds depicted and improve their phonological awareness.

[Candi]

All ages

[Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet book.

[Lisa Ingold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this charming little book; my little boys and I have read it over and over. We love the story and the illustrations.

[LibraryLaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good graduation gift!

[Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this author and her simple illustrations.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one seriously cute book.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the movement depicted in the illustrations, this has a great message to.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, a confidence builder. Good for graduates.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is pretty cute, but Melanie (2) doesn't really understand the pictures or story even though she likes to read it.

[Shalentz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved all the yellow and the little peep. Didn't love the book.

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistically depicts all of the up and down emotions associated with fear and then the courageous leap . . .

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

The balloon entrance was a bit odd, but I suppose it's there to say you can still get scared and Mom will still be there.