04 August 2010

not-so-quiet cricket

i have been quietly busy interacting with children's books these august days. it's solitary work and there's a certain rhythm to the task that is, at times, quite calming. so imagine how startled i was tonight when this book began to chirp at me! chirp! a tiny mechanism inside the back cover mimics the sound of the cricket depicted in the story. and i didn't even realize it was there! how delightful that books can engage small children with sound as well as story! the little girl is going to love this one!

5 comments:

Kristen said...

I had a funny experience with this very book! My mom gave it to my daughter - I thought the chirping was adorable, too - until the chirping WOULDN't STOP! We tried everything - even smothering it under a pillow. It chirped non-stop for 72 hours before finally running out of batteries. Definitely, NOT a very quiet cricket! But we were laughing about it the whole time. :) Oh, the irony.

chris said...

Kristen: your comment made me laugh all over again! thanks! mine is such an old copy, i'm very surprised it still chirps!

gretchen said...

It's Eric Carle! We went to the museum in Amherst on Sunday, after visiting my dad and Anne. I loved it -- immersed in children's picture books, art, beauty and the sound of reading.

Angel @ Finding The Inspiring said...

There is something so soothing about the sound of crickets at night - but only in the far distance. Not so fun when the little critters get in your house! Still, I like the idea of the fake ones in your childrens book... What a fun idea!

susan t. landry said...

i can't think of much else that's as nice as being knee-deep in children's books! i trust you are thoroughly enjoying this enterprise?