Say Zoop!

Tullet adds to his collection of books (Press Here, Mix It Up!, etc.) in which readers interact with dots on the page. This time, the painted dots designate sound: small blue dots for small sounds ("Now put your finger on the little dot and say a little oh!") and larger ones for louder sounds ("Then put your finger on the big dot and say a huge oh!"). The narrator makes helpful suggestions but never turns bossy: "Make a shivering oh! (You could even shake the book a little bit.)" Activities and ideas come thick and fast as red dots join the blue ones: they make animal noises, argue, and then make up. With the addition of yellow ("Hi! Say waahoo! With your finger"), noises and frantic activity proliferate, and the pages grow more beautiful as well, with a Mondrian-like palette of basic primaries. Franceschelli's translation renders Tullet's French in easy, natural English. Parents and young children will enjoy going through the pages of sound experiments together--it's a book that's all about play, the noisier the better. Ages 3-5. (Aug.)

PreS-Gr 2--Tullet's latest interactive offering encourages readers to experiment with sound. The author/illustrator tells children to say "oh!" each time they see a blue dot. The size of the dots changes: a large one prompts kids to let out a loud "oh!"; a tiny one, a soft "oh." Tullet spreads the dots far apart on the page to slow things down and groups them together to speed things up. When a red dot enters the mix ("say 'ah!' "), the words and illustrations become wonderfully wacky. What would it sound like if the blue dot had a conversation with the red dot? Or if they were tickled? Blending elegance and whimsy, Tullet artfully places simple shapes against a white background, letting the images turn delightfully chaotic at times. An argument between the two circles has a frantic, Jackson Pollock--esque feel, while a scene in which the narrator asks readers to pretend that the dots are jumping on a trampoline evokes the joyful energy of Keith Haring's graffiti. Visible smears on the spots add a painterly charm. The enthusiastic text matches the lively visuals. VERDICT Whether shared in a group or one-on-one, this dynamic selection will make a boisterous read-aloud. Consider using it to introduce youngsters to the concept of musical notation. Pure fun.--Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal