Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices (A Charlotte Zolotow book) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Eric Beddows (Illustrator) "Sap's rising..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Winner of the 1989 Newbery Award, Joyful Noise is a children's book of poetry about insects that was designed for two readers to enjoy together. On each page are two columns of verse for children to alternate reading aloud about the lives of six-legged creatures ranging from fireflies writing in the sky to a love affair between two lice, crickets eating pie crumbs and the single day in the life of a mayfly. Charming large scale soft-pencil illustrations enhance the comical, easy-to-read text.

From Publishers Weekly

Fleischman and Beddows (I Am Phoenix) are paired again for another remarkable collection of poems written to be read, by two people, out loud. Mayflies, moths, crickets and other insects join voices in clever musical duets. Fireflies are "insect calligraphers" who use their light as ink on the parchment of the night, cicadas "chant from the treetops" their "booming joyful noise," and two honeybeesa queen and a droneexplain contrapuntally why they have the best and worst of lives. In one of the wittiest poems in the volume, two book lice discuss how they met on some dusty shelves, "honeymooned in an old guide book on Greece" and adore each other in spite of opposite tasteshe prefers Shakespeare and she Spillane. Beddows's black-and-white drawings blend biology-text accuracy with charming cartoon fancies and keep pace with the imaginative verse. All ages.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (March 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060218525
• ISBN-13: 978-0060218522
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #520,781 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing poetry, May 6, 2000

By	"uneyay" (Stanford, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices (Paperback)

Here are fourteen poems about, of all things, bugs. Some may wonder at the subject matter; some may be disgusted. By the time you're done reading them, however, I'm sure you'll no longer feel that way.

Speaking of fireflies, book lice, and honeybees, Fleischman shows the unique perspective of each. At times his poems are hilarious, with the worker ant complaining in time to the languid satisfaction of the queen; some are poignant enough to touch your heart and make you think twice about that caterpillar you shuddered at the other day.

What makes these poems truly wonderful, however, is the fact that they are "for two voices". For full effect, they *must* be read aloud by two people, sometimes in chorus, sometimes speaking alone, and other times echoing each other. In such a manner, the already-delightful poetry becomes alive.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two readers., September 18, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices (Paperback)

A human.

..........A bug.

Quite different,we two

..........Quite different,we two,

but now here we are

..........with a book to review.

"Joyful Noise"

..........as it's called,

is a beautiful book.

..........Whether human or insect, it's sure worth a look.

Two voices, aloud, join in poems like these:

..........a story of booklice, and one about bees.

So get with a friend and find out the joys that come out of making

..........A JOYFUL NOISE!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An original idea, December 21, 2003

By	E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices (Paperback)

These poems about the lives of different insects are meant to be read by two voices, thereby mimicking the sounds or characteristics of those bugs. The book works rather well, especially the whirligig beetle poem. Appearing in bookstores nation wide in 1992, I remember being given this book at the age of 10 from my mother. At that particular age I was not interested in participating in a picture book, clearly designed for younger students. Had I received it at a younger age I think I would have liked it more. I would recommend presenting this book to a group of students, having them perform it together. That would be the best use of this singular text.