Quick as a Cricket

by Natalie Wood, Don Wood (Illustrator)

A young boy describes himself as "loud as a lion," "quiet as a clam," "tough as a rhino," and "gentle as a lamb"

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Poetry, Fiction, Nature, Emotion

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1982

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audrey Wood has done some great stories. She is so good at taking something simple and turning into an energetic interesting little story. She's able to take that child-like wonder of the simple things being amazing and that is the story.

This is one line per picture about how complex we are as people. We can be small as an ant or strong as an Ox or mean as a shark or nice as a bunny. She goes into all the feelings we can have as people and how all those feelings make up the person we are. It's so well done.

It's simple, for beginners and has a great big message.

From Open Library.

[La Crosse County Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally published July 2009

Often when people think of picture books, they think of a nice bedtime story for their kids, but picture books can be much more than that. Have you ever really thought about the message a picture book has for your child, young or old?
 
Take a look at the book Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood. It’s a nice little story about a boy who is comparing himself to all sorts of animals. 

As your child hears this story, he is hearing similes, learning opposites, and seeing beautiful illustrations, but look deeper into this simple story; you will see themes of acceptance and self possibilities. 

The story takes ordinarily unacceptable characteristics of a child and identifies different animals with them in a positive way. There are no value judgments on any of these feelings or qualities, and that makes it alright to feel all these ways. 

All of these things are what makes us who we are. Wouldn’t it be a great thing for not only our young children, but our high school graduates to know as well?

You will also be surprised to learn that some of your favorite adult authors are also authors of picture books! Judy Blume, James Patterson, and Danielle Steele, are just a few, but there are many more. Go to our picture books and “check out” an easy read for you and your children to enjoy. (When your child wants to start learning to read for himself, your job isn’t over; look for our special section of "Beginning Readers" books!)

Find this book and other titles within our catalog.

[Kathryn Brunk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the most fabulous illustrations that depict the adjectives described in the book. This book is all similes that are comparing adjectives to animals. This book can be read a very expressive way that helps to describe the adjectives even more. I just can’t get over the illustrations, they are so descriptive and colorful, and they can be found on the author’s website.

Learning Experience- I would use these printable illustrations and glue them onto a Popsicle stick. I would hand them out to children in the class right before I read the book and as went through the pages of the book I would the child with that prop stand up and depict with their voice and body the adjective.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definite toddler potential. It might be a bit too long for the really young crowd I usually get. So I'm looking at how to shorten, and also involve them without being too repetitive or, well, odd.

8/2/10 I shortened the book, but I think this group could have handled it. They were a good group in joining along with the different animals. They liked the ending.

8/4/10 smaller, younger, wiggly, and more distract-able group. Shortening it was a wise choice. Some followed, some didn't. Ending was still liked.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hit with my three year old. We got it from the library, and within a few days he could "read" the entire thing to us or himself. I think it's the first book he's memorized in its entirety.

The illustrations are great--big, lush, expressive.

That's all it needs to be a great book in my mind. But in this case, maybe it will also help just a little with his current phase of insisting he's "happy all the time"--even through tears. And that would be a welcome bonus.

[Serpil Dislen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It is very simple with large pictures, but is great for introducing comparisons and adjectives. ("I'm as quick as a cricket") It's simplicity is appealing yet it also uses words that are a little less common in a preschooler's vocabulary. The young kids can enjoy the story and get in some practice using opposites.

[Peg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to read and as a read-along - catchy to say the least. Beautiful full page illustrations. Still quoted and my children are grown!

[Jazmin Palma]

This is a good book that can be used for very young children. Each page has a different animal as well as a description using an adjective of what that animal might be thought of being. It has great colorful illustrations that could hold the attention of the children.
An activity I would do is after reading and talking about the book, the children could draw a picture about themselves using different materials and write a describe that states what they feel are their capabilities or abilities. And it can also be use for an activity about animals and learning about them and what they can do.

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange, strange, strange. The illustrations in this one are bizarre, but a respite from the usual generic board book fare. I didn't like the simplistic view of animals, such as the view of sharks as "mean."

[Tasneem Zafer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful short text with beautiful rhymes but AWFUL illustrations!!

[Henry]

Hands down my favorite book at the turn of the 2020s.

[SaraKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to use for a lesson on similes since each page has one and it is illustrated. The pictures are cute and very detailed. The front cover is a little off-putting though. The story shows that people can be a lot of different things at different times or with different people and everything that we are together is what we are as a whole.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a children’s picture book that uses a collection of similes / metaphors of animals to represent a child’s characteristics

[Nara · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sou preguiçoso como um lagarto,
Sou trabalhador como uma abelha.
Junte tudo isso, e...
... É assim que eu sou!"

Podemos nos reconhecer em tantos opostos, e ver esses opostos ilustrados pelo Don é incrível!

[Manal Cheikh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book get children moving with action and lets them know that their personality is made up of many feelings and it's ok to feel the opposite of one feeling or another,feel big, feel small, feel loud, feel quiet. We are all of these things and that's what makes us unique.

[Tara Schloetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute and fun story that would be perfect for a read aloud to a young child. The illustrations use lots of colors and are very inviting, and the text is very easy to read and has simple vocabulary. This book uses repetition, which can be seen on every page because the writing uses the same formatting each time. This formatting includes a metaphor, for example, “I’m as large as a whale.” Although this book uses very simple language, it would be great to read to young children when teaching about elements of speech, particularly metaphors. The illustrations also add to the metaphors used because the reader can see that the child is literally “as busy as a bee” because the illustration shows bees working hard and also shows the child working hard in the garden. Additionally, this book uses rhyme, which isn’t as noticeable because there is only one metaphor on each page and one line on each page, so the rhymes happen every couple pages. However, this can be used during a read aloud and the child can guess what animal will come next; for example, “I’m as brave as a tiger, I’m as shy as a shrimp, I’m as tame as a poodle, I’m as wild as a chimp.” If the adult hides the page from the child beforehand, the child can guess that the word is "chimp," and then can see the illustration of all the chimps flying around the jungle.

[Brenna Kerley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick as a Cricket is an awesome book to show students what it is like to finally be aware of yourself and who you are becoming in terms of growing up and developing. This book, although I was not a fan of the illustrations, is a great book to teach life lessons to students. The biggest message I got from this book is to accept who you are and love yourself just the way you are. Throughout this book, there are several references to animals and insects that the boy compares himself to. This is a great book and a good read for early elementary. Maybe more around 4th or 3rd grade. I love the message that this book sends out to young students.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book approximately 1 Million times to my children and somehow I find it just as wonderful now as I did the first read. It is beautifully illustrated, the wording is simple and powerful. It (subtly) teaches vocabulary and has a lovely, positive ending that sometimes still makes me tear up. You can (and I have!) look at the illustrations for hours and still find little things hidden. Pick this one up for your young ones and then, when they are cool and 8, make them read it to you some quiet Saturday afternoon - you will not regret it.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little boy compares aspects of himself to many different creatures. Lovely full-color illustrations, simple rhymes.
I'm...
Quick as a cricket, slow as a snail
Small as an ant, large as a whale
Sad as a basset, happy as a lark
Nice as a bunny, mean as a shark
Cold as a toad, hot as a fox
Weak as a kitten, strong as an ox
Loud as a lion, quiet as a clam
Tough as a rhino, gentle as a lamb
Brave as a tiger, shy as a shrimp
Tame as a poodle, wild as a chimp
Lazy as a lizard, busy as a bee
Put it all together - and you've got me!

[Katie Coci · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Quick as a Cricket" is full of wonderful detailed illustrations. This is a very basic "all about me book" that young readers would love. The only character in this book is a young boy that describes himself using a variety of animals. For example he states, "I'm as loud as a lion." This book would be great to teach comparisons using similes. Also, this book would be a great model for the students to write their own "all about me" book.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unless you're trying to teach similes, I don't see a reason for the constant comparisons between the kid being as "quick as a cricket, fast as a bear," etc. The perspective in the illustrations is wonky, though its also the only positive point I see in this story as the pictures are drawn to have the characters coming toward the reader, creating an intimate experience (with awkwardly drawn elements, which make you want to back away).

[Courtney Hoke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story that made many connections from the little boy explaining how he is "tough as an ox" and "loud as a lion." With these connections, children can associate two things together and even know something about that animal... they are also learning about metaphors! The color scheme was well done as each picture (colors used) set the mood. Great book, I give it 5 stars because children will be able to pick up on such easy metaphors and transfer them into their lives.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's no real story line, but rather lots of comparisons of a busy child to different animals. The illustrations are amazing, but this one has text appropriate to toddlers, but the length is appropriate to preschoolers. If I used it with my toddlers at story time I'd paper clip several spreads together and we would imitate the animals in the book - lots of chances for movement! In a pinch I might use it with my preschoolers as a fun book at the end.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The board book edition looses a star for me. Many of the illustrations are cut off, the story starts on the front cover and ends on the back cover- the library bar code covers it up. It’s painful to loose so much of these gorgeous illustrations. The charming similes and even rhyme scheme make it an excellent book.

[Valentin Eni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un copil se compară cu diferite animale, atribuindu-şi de la fiecare câte o însuşire, de fiecare dată aceste însuşiri vin în opoziţie una cu alta, sau ar fi complementare. Pictorul a lucrat mult şi a făcut treabă bună.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

his makes a great bedtime story book for very young babies to early readers. This is a wonderful story to read to children. This book has beautiful artwork, rhyme and rhythm to the words, and interesting characters to capture little imaginations.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A child talks about all the different animals and insects he is like. Beautiful illustrations with simple, easy to read words. My preschoolers LOVE this book! It opens so many different conversations with each of them. I will read it every year I am a teacher.

[Danica Midlil · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate this illustrator! I think she draws Ugly children!

[Don Gubler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a favorite.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young lad discovers all the ways he is like animals in this romp through the land of similies and metaphors. The illustrations are vibrant and alive as they compare the behavior of humans to animals both well and lesser known. Audrey and Don Wood produced so many masterpieces in my lifetime and this one remains a treasured favorite.


This classic book has been republished to delight yet another generation of students. As an English degree student I shared how poetry could be easily created using this picture book. As a first grade teachers my students used this book to springboard stories of joy and use of adjectives in our writing. As a librarian I have shared this book with non readers and strong readers to display how words create art as much as art can create a story. I am grateful to Audrey and Don Wood for the gifts they have given through so many of their books!