Ook the Book: And Other Silly Rhymes (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Shannon McNeill (Illustrator) "I am Ook, Ook the book..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ook the Book seems like it's been around forever, dog-eared from decades of readings and rereadings. It could be the jaunty Seussian rhythms at play, but it has a classic quirkiness all its own--a blend of Calef Brown's Polkabats and Octopus Slacks and the good Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat. With poem titles from "Ug the Bug" to "Eep the Sheep," you can see that the rhyme is not exactly subtle. Therein lies its charm. Take "Ow the Cow":

I am Ow,
Ow the cow.
I can bark.
Bow wow wow.
Don't ask my why,
don't ask me how.
I am just that kind
of cow.

While its simple rhymes make it perfect for building early reading skills, Shannon McNeill's action-packed illustrations (awash in a delicious color palette) give readers of all ages plenty to snicker over. In "Ake the Snake," for example, the snake has a cake, because he can bake. The snake, coiled by the lake (sporting a cupcake chef's hat) is surrounded by baking ingredients and two tiny green traumatized bugs, who have indeed tried to take the snake cake, and therefore are being flung screaming into the lake, much to the dismay of another bug hiding behind a sack of what might be flour. We think it's gutsy to write a poem as simple as "I am At, / At the cat. / Do you see Pat? / He is my rat. / I sat on Pat, / so he is flat." And we like it. (Pat the flat rat doesn't look too happy about it, however.) A wonderful primer for wee ones just starting to have fun with words. (Ages 2 to 5) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

Rovetch (Sweet Dreams Little One) composes repetitive chants around single-syllable words, and the results are as catchy as they are vapid. The author creates names like "Ake the Snake" and "Eep the Sheep" by dropping initial letters. Then she toys with the ones that are left over by substituting new consonants. Title character "Ook the Book" sits down to tea, declaring, "I am Ook,/ Ook the book./ Do you see me in my nook?" Ug the Bug introduces a friend, Glug the slug, and asks, "Do you want a bug slug hug?" Altered words appear in large, bold letters for added emphasis. McNeill (Albert Goes to Town) embraces the nonsensical scenarios with pink skies and lollipop trees; her gouaches present a worm's-eye view of a grassy garden, where the speakers frolic with roly-poly gray rats, picnic-crashing green ants and a mischievous Id the Kid. The artist brings everyone together for a closing spread where "Y the Fly" sniffs, "I will try not to cry./ But my, it's hard to say goodbye!" Compulsive rhymers should proceed with caution they may launch into an unstoppable word game. Ages 2-6.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811826600
• ISBN-13: 978-0811826600
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,294,406 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tons of Fun, April 30, 2001

By	Roz Levine (Virginia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Lissa Rovetch has taken some of the fundamental phonics sounds, in reading and authored a marvelous collection of simple, silly, tongue twisting poems that's perfect for pre-schoolers and beginning readers. Meet AKE the snake who can bake a cake, UG the bug and his friend Glug the slug, ING the thing who brings string to the king or ID the kid who hid a squid, to name just a few. Shannon McNeill's colorful, expressive and detailed illustrations, showing these zany characters in funny and engaging situations, will have youngsters laughing out loud. With its easy, repetitive style and wonderful artwork, little ones will be "reading" right along with you, in no time. Perfect for youngsters 3-7, Ook The Book is a winner that will charm and delight everyone in the family.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'd give it 10 stars if I could!, April 20, 2001

By A Customer

I love this book! The illustrations are beautiful! The characters are so charming and each page is a jewel. The writing is fun and will have you bouncing along from page to page. One of the lovliest illustrated books I've ever seen! It's fun for all ages!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Winner!, June 3, 2006

By	Leslie Solomon "former first grade and now ki... (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A fabulous resource for teaching phonics concepts in a primary classroom. Each page or 2-page spread is a silly rhyme with cheery illustrations offering good picture support. Students will enjoy joining Ow the Cow, Ake the Snake, Y the Fly, Eep the Sheep, Ook the Book, In the Twin, Ug the Bug, At the Cat, Et the Pet, Ee the Bee, Ing the Thing and Id the Kid on their zany adventures.