A cricket is born who cannot talk! A bigger cricket welcomes him to the world, then a locust, a cicada, and many other insects, but each time the tiny cricket rubs his wings together in vain: no sound emerges. In the end, however, he meets another quiet cricket, and manages to find his "voice." Children will love the repetitive text as they meet a steady parade of new creatures (including a "spittlebug, slurping in a sea of froth"); and of course they'll delight in the happy ending. This is one of a series of large (11.5 by 8.5 inches) format Eric Carle books with a mechanical twist: in this case, the quiet cricket bursts into (surprisingly authentic) electronic song as you turn the last page. (The battery is replaceable.) An amusement for the ears, but most of all--as ever, with Carle--a feast for the eyes. The colorful cut-paper illustrations are simply gorgeous, drawing you in even on the hundredth reading. (And there will be a hundredth reading, followed by many more.) (Baby to preschool) --Richard Farr


From Publishers Weekly
A small cricket hatches "one warm day," and the other insects greet him. Though the little guy wants very much to respond, nothing happens when he rubs his wings together. Finally, as night falls, he spies another cricket and attempts to greet her. "And this time . . . he chirped the most beautiful sound that she had ever heard." As usual, Carle's art is lovely and his story is simple and satisfying. But this book has something The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Busy Spider didn't have: an electronic chirping mechanism activated by the turning of the last page. Though the surprisingly realistic noise may get on parents' nerves, it will certainly intrigue and entertain its intended audience. Ages 3-6. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-- Carle has created yet another celebration of nature. Ironically, it relies upon a high-tech gadget. When a baby cricket is born, a big cricket rubs his wings together to chirp "Welcome!" The little cricket attempts to reply, but there is no sound. On each double-page spread, the young creature encounters a variety of insects, but is unable to produce a sound to respond to their greetings. Finally, he comes upon another cricket, rubs his wings together, and chirps. Readers are then rewarded with a mechanically produced cricket's "chirp." Typical of Carle's style, the language is simple, with rhythm, repetition, and alliteration to delight young listeners. Painted collage illustrations are lavish and expressive. Unfortunately, while Carle takes full advantage of the opportunity presented by technology, he does so at the expense of the story. Although the attempt to provide a multisensory experience is an admirable one, he relies too heavily on gimmickry. The sound produced is not so much enhancement for the plot as it is essential to the resolution. Without it, the final outcome is flat and anticlimactic, and the text becomes tediously repetitive. Although the publisher promises that the "cricket's chirp will have a long life" if the book is closed after reading, it is difficult to gauge its life span in library circulation. The book is sure to attract a large audience, but readers who come to it after the novelty has worn off will be disappointed. --Starr LaTronica, North Berkeley Library, CACopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Card catalog description
A very quiet cricket who wants to rub his wings together and make a sound as do so many other animals finally achieves his wish. The cricket's sound is reproduced at the end of the book.

FROM OUR EDITORS

A little cricket hatches out of an egg eager to respond to the friendly greetings of everyone he meets. From dawn to dusk, the cricket tries to chirp back to a variety of insects--a locust, a praying mantis, and a spittlebug, among others--but ever time he rubs his legs together nothing happens. When night falls, he meets a female cricket who is also quiet. This time, when the cricket rubs his legs together, a computer chip plays his beautiful song.

ANNOTATION

A very quiet cricket who wants to rub his wings together and make a sound as do so many other animals finally achieves his wish. The cricket's sound is reproduced at the end of the book.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"The simple, repeating story of a young cricket weho tries to say hello to the locust, worm, etc. who greet him. He cannot make a sound until the day he meets a very quiet girl cricket. Classic Carle illustrations on heavy stock make this ideal for younger readers. The chirper that sounds when the last page is opened makes an accurate cricket sound."--Children's Book Review Service. Full color.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

A small cricket hatches ``one warm day,'' and the other insects greet him. Though the little guy wants very much to respond, nothing happens when he rubs his wings together. Finally, as night falls, he spies another cricket and attempts to greet her. ``And this time . . . he chirped the most beautiful sound that she had ever heard.'' As usual, Carle's art is lovely and his story is simple and satisfying. But this book has something The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Busy Spider didn't have: an electronic chirping mechanism activated by the turning of the last page. Though the surprisingly realistic noise may get on parents' nerves, it will certainly intrigue and entertain its intended audience. Ages 3-6. (Nov.)

Children's Literature - Kristin Harris

A 3" square box contains 22 squares of cardboard arranged in a folded expandable cardboard mobile about spiders. One side is solely photographs of numerous spiders and their webs, while the opposite side has numerous squares with text that answer such questions as "Which spiders do not make webs?" and "How long have spiders lived on Earth?" At first glance, it seems too much like a gimmick, but it would make an interesting addition to a child's room or classroom. Hanging length is almost 3 feet.

Children's Literature - Debra Briatico

This delightful picture book tells the story of a quiet cricket who makes his way into the world, meeting one insect after another. As he encounters a locust, praying mantis, spittlebug, cicada, bumblebee, dragonfly, group of mosquitoes, and luna moth, he tries to make a sound. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot make a sound. It is not until he matures and meets a female cricket, that he is able to make the most beautiful sound in the world. Children will enjoy the surprise ending--an electronic cricket chirping sound.

School Library Journal