Imitating animals is a fun way for preschoolers to learn about our world, while making some noise!
- "Moo Baa La La," Sandra Boynton
This short board book can be read to babies, but is so silly, it would be a shame not to share the fun with preschoolers, too! Bouncy animals illustrate such lines as, "A cow says MOO. A sheep says BAA. Three singing pigs say LA LA LA!"
- "Ask Mr. Bear," Marjorie Flack
In this 1932 classic, Danny asks farm animals what gift he can get his mother. Each suggests an item she already has, so Danny sets off to ask Mr. Bear, who has the perfect idea! Children will enjoy the repetitive action and provide the appropriate sound when each animal appears.
- "In the Tall, Tall Grass," Denise Fleming
Take a break from the farm animals! In this vibrant, color-saturated tour through the grass, a crunching, munching caterpillar passes birds, insects, and other creatures, whose sounds are introduced in rhyming text. A similar title by Ms. Fleming is "In the Small, Small Pond."
- "Too Much Noise," Ann McGovern
In this tour de force of sounds, Peter thinks a few squeaks make his house too noisy. On the advice of a wise man, he starts filling his house with barnyard animals. Too much noise! After he removes all the animals, he learns to appreciate the relative tranquility of a squeaky floorboard.
- "Duck on a Bike," David Shannon
Duck finds a bike and zips around the farm, passing all his animal friends. As in Ask Mr. Bear, children can show off their animal-identification skills with each turn of the page. Additional fun comes from Shannon's zany illustrations and his interpretation of what each animal is really thinking: "That's the silliest thing I've ever seen," thinks the cow. Indeed!
