Elsa Geskus
1993
Citations
0
Influential Citations
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Citations
Journal
Reading Horizons
Abstract
The Noisemakers. Judith Caseley. (1992).; Lightning Inside You: and Other Native American Riddles. John Bierhorst. Illustrated by Louise Brierley. (1992).; 284 READING HORIZONS, 1993, volume 33, #3 Children's Books The Noisemakers. Written by Judith Caseley. Greenwillow Books, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York NY 10019. ISBN: 0-688-09395-7. 1992. US$14.00. Elsa Geskus, Western Michigan University Noise, noise and more noise! Sam and Laura pretend to be many characters or animals — always with appropriate sounds. Each selection, whether cow, monster, jack-in-the box or roo ster is accompanied by a loud moo, gr-r-r, pop, or cock-adoodle-doooo. Sam and Laura's mothers try persuading the children to be quiet animals. They visit a library, restaurant and store but each time are asked to leave. The mothers are very discouraged, but have an idea; they go to a park where Sam and Laura can pretend and make noise to their hearts' desire. Primary children will easily identify with Sam and Laura — teachers might ask children to predict a noise Sam and Laura will make. The second reading could include children actually acting out the noises — at an appropriate decibel level! Lightning Inside You: and Other Native American Riddles. Edited by John Bierhorst. Illustrated by Louise Brierley. Morrow Junior Books, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York NY 10019. ISBN: 0688-09582-8. 1992. 112 pp. US$14.00. Far more than a book of riddles, Lightning Inside You offers readers a detailed description of the art form of riddling in Native American cultures, a glossary of the tribes whose riddles are represented, and an extensive list of sources. Evocative black and white drawings enhance the text. Two riddle stories — in which one character challenges another with a story com posed entirely of riddles — conclude the book. Individual rid dles about animals include these intriguing items — What is it? A black stone with its head to the ground, lis tening to the sounds of the underworld. Wonder, wonder, what can it be? An upside-down house with fifty thousand owners. Who's the good-looking young person in the striped blanket? — to which the answers are: a beetle, a beehive, a skunk. There's much here to delight and much to learn from. (JMJ)