Noisy Nora [Hardcover]

Rosemary Wells (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1997

Nora's back again with a monumental crash! New "of the moment" art focuses even more attention on her as an irresistible character with staying power. A favorite for generations, Noisy Nora is the hilarious portrayal of what it is to be a middle child. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Rosemary Wells' tales of animals with very human problems make her a favorite from the board-book years on. Now one old Wells friend, Nora, that noisy mouse, returns with all her middle-child problems still on display. What's a mouse to do when little brother and big sister take up all mom and dad's time? Yup. Plenty of noise. Look at these new pictures and you can almost hear the racket. With all that clatter, it might be better to read this one before dinner, not before bed!

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1. All new illustrations infuse this much-loved picture book (Dial, 1973) with energy. Vibrant colors and a larger format make the characters seem to jump out at readers. The original book's sweet, subdued pen-and-ink drawings were a mere appetizer when compared to the feast of colors here, all created from a combination of watercolor, India ink, gouache, pencil, and acrylics. Keeping each scene in a nearly framed vignette, Wells defines and details her illustrations even more than before. The eye-catching drawings and altered word groupings make the story flow better; words and pictures enhance one another to achieve the smooth narrative so necessary for storytelling. Some other differences between new and old: father has given up his pipe; kitchen knives aren't left on the table; and some architectural changes have placed the stair banister on the correct side so Nora won't topple off the side while flying her brother's kite. Nora, the delightful protagonist of the story, is the same; her dilemma hasn't changed one iota. This middle child who continually makes noise to get her parents' attention is really noticed when the silence from her absence saddens her family and starts them hunting for her. This is a Nora for the '90s!?Susan Garland, Maynard Public Library, MA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (May 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803718357
• ISBN-13: 978-0803718357
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,501,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in New York City, Rosemary Wells grew up in a house "filled with books, dogs, and nineteenth-century music." Her childhood years were spent between her parents' home near Red Bank, New Jersey, and her grandmother's rambling stucco house on the Jersey Shore. Most of her sentimental memories, both good and bad, stem from that place and time. Her mother was a dancer in the Russian Ballet, and her father a playwright and actor. Mrs. Wells says, "Both my parents flooded me with books and stories. My grandmother took me on special trips to the theater and museums in New York. "Rosemary Wells's career as an author and illustrator spans more than 30 years and 60 books. She has won numerous awards, and has given readers such unforgettable characters as Max and Ruby, Noisy Nora, and Yoko. She has also given Mother Goose new life in two enormous, definitive editions, published by Candlewick. Wells wrote and illustrated Unfortunately Harriet, her first book with Dial, in 1972. One year later she wrote the popular Noisy Nora. "The children and our home life have inspired, in part, many of my books. Our West Highland white terrier, Angus, had the shape and expressions to become Benjamin and Tulip, Timothy, and all the other animals I have made up for my stories." Her daughters Victoria and Beezoo were constant inspirations, especially for the now famous "Max" board book series. "Simple incidents from childhood are universal," Wells says. "The dynamics between older and younger siblings are common to all families."But not all of Wells' ideas come from within the family circle. Many times when speaking, Mrs. Wells is asked where her ideas come from. She usually answers, "It's a writer's job to have ideas." Sometimes an idea comes from something she reads or hears about, as in the case of her recent book, Mary on Horseback, a story based on the life of Mary Breckenridge, who founded the Frontier Nursing Service. Timothy Goes to School was based on an incident in which her daughter was teased for wearing the wrong clothes to a Christmas concert. Her dogs, west highland terriers, Lucy and Snowy, work their way into her drawings in expression and body position. She admits, "I put into my books all of the things I remember. I am an accomplished eavesdropper in restaurants, trains, and gatherings of any kind. These remembrances are jumbled up and changed because fiction is always more palatable than truth. Memories become more true as they are honed and whittled into characters and stories."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!, August 11, 2003

By 

Emily K. Paster "A mom and lover of children'... (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Noisy Nora (Picture Puffins) (Mass Market Paperback)

This was one of my favorite books growing up. The rhymes are particularly appealing for young readers. I can still recite certain lines: "'I am leaving!' shouted Nora, 'And I am never coming back!' But no one heard anything except a tra la la from Jack." Wonderful stuff. And contrary to what the dad-to-be wrote, the message of this book is heartwarming. You don't have to be a middle child to appreciate Nora's predicament.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Responding to the new father, July 25, 2004

By 

Nora (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Noisy Nora (Picture Puffins) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was one of my favorites as a child. For years, at least one aquaintance would get me this book for my birthday.

The message I remember from it was not that acting out will get you attention. Nora's parents yelled at her for the noise she made.

The message is that your parents love you no matter what, and are willing to forgive bad temper because of that love.

This is a good book for children. The message is lovely, and told in an amusing way.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't wait to buy this!, September 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Noisy Nora (Hardcover)

This was my favorite book as a small child, and I couldn't wait to buy it for my own children. The rhymes make it fun to read, and children really identify with Nora's predicament. The ending is perfect, too.