| Title | : | Quick as a Cricket |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0859531511 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780859531511 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 32 |
| Publication | : | First published August 1, 1982 |
Quick as a Cricket Reviews
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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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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.
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Fun to read and as a read-along - catchy to say the least. Beautiful full page illustrations. Still quoted and my children are grown!
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A wonderful short text with beautiful rhymes but AWFUL illustrations!!
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Hands down my favorite book at the turn of the 2020s.
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"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! -
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The illustrations and the message here are timeless.
Children will be able to identify with most, if not all, of the creatures in this book.
Whether they are as quick as a cricket, small as an ant, quiet as a clam, etc. here, in this book, is a place where they can learn all about themselves and about how unique they are! -
The illustrations, and the message here, are timeless.
Children will be able to identify with most, if not all, of the creatures in this book.
Whether they are as quick as a cricket, small as an ant, quiet as a clam, etc. here; this is a place where they can learn,all about themselves and about how unique, they are! -
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.
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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."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The illustrations are vivid, detailed, and captivating. This book teaches comparisons of qualities, size, feelings, etc., using similes. The book is great for preschoolers, exposing them to new adjectives and names of animals. The theme of the book teaches highlights on a child's uniqueness and abilities.
