All God's Critters [Hardcover]

Bill Staines (Author), Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Big...small...quiet...loud...feathered, flippered, or furred....

All God's critters have a place in the choir! And this jubilant and raucous bunch is waiting for you to join in because everybody has a part to sing. It doesn't matter if you sing like a bird...howl like a wolf...or croak like a frog!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Intricately playful pictures by the late Caldecott Medalist further enliven a rousing spiritual; PW said, "Thanks to the song's sentiments of tolerance, even the most tone-deaf readers will feel free to belt out the chorus." Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2—A theater curtain opens on Staines's classic folk song populated with the gorgeous array of animals featured in the lyrics. Each spread shows singing, howling, and yowling beasts set against dramatic lighting that varies from misty sunlight to darkest night. The anthropomorphized critters are all hams and seem to enjoy their moments in the spotlight. Nelson's rich illustrations display an exuberance that comes to a rousing finale in a foldout, rainbow-drenched spread followed by a view of the wildly cheering audience and the bowing performers. Musical notation appears as the curtain closes. Libraries that own the version illustrated by Margot Zemach (Dutton, 1989) will still want to share Nelson's critters with storytime groups.—Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (January 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689869592
• ISBN-13: 978-0689869594
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 10.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #574,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sing it loud for All God's Critters..., May 11, 2000

By 

Hillary Wolfe (Pasadena, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All God's Critters Got a Place in the Choir (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

Set this book to a jaunty tune and the words become infectious. Your kids will be reciting it over and over! My kids loved it, as did all the kids in the kindergarten class I work in. I recommend this book highly. It has the same kind of rythmic quality as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, but with a little more depth.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GORGEOUS book, but I wish it came with a CD, February 19, 2009

By 

Tanya Dennis "www.TanyaDennisBooks.com" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: All God's Critters (Hardcover)

This book brings a song by Bill Staines to book form. The song, actually titled "All God's Critters Have a Place in the Choir," describes all sorts of animals singing and clapping and praising the Lord. Coupled with illustrations by Kadir Nelson, the text translates into a zany stage production.

One page toward the back of the book folds out to a four-page spread. Also at the back of the book, readers find the complete song with written music.

What I Like: I LOVE the illustrations! Kadir Nelson is one of my favorites; his work in this volume lives up to my expectations: vibrant, colorful, life-like, expressive ... absolutely striking. Also, the size of the book is great. It's large enough to read over two or three laps. My kids enjoy pointing out their favorite animals and making the appropriate praise noises.

What I Dislike: I wish the book included a CD. Not everyone can read music; without a CD or music download, turning the text into a tune can be difficult.

Overall Rating: The quality is Excellent, but without a CD or audio download, I have to rate it Very Good.

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All God's Critters, September 11, 2009

By 

Jewish Book World Magazine (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All God's Critters (Hardcover)

All God's Critters is a delightful book that sings out its message loud and clear. Written by folksinger/song writer Bill Staines and whimsically illustrated by Kadir Nelson, the words of the song nearly float right off the page. Children and adults will be tapping their feet to the catchy beat as the tune spins 'round in their heads. On the surface, the story introduces readers to the animals in the choir. Each animal sings in its own special way. "Some sing low, some sing higher, some sing out on the telephone wire, and some just clap their hands." Every critter belongs in the choir, no matter how different it might be. But the story's message flows past the simple idea that every animal gets to be in the choir. It pulsates beyond the comforting inference that no matter what drum a child beats to, s/he is still a valued member of the group, whether it is a choir, a classroom or the whole world. The importance of the book is revealed in its title and reinforced in each refrain: All God's critters got a place..." because it's God's choir. It's a world filled with God's creations and everyone is important to the group. So sit back and sing along, you and your child will enjoy this song and the story for a long, long time. Marcie Berneger