List Price: $4.95
Age Range: Infant-PreK
Official URL: harcourtbooks.com
Rating:

Bow Wow Hears Things is part of a growing series of “Bow Wow” books by Mark Newgarden and Megan Montague Cash. Bow Wow is a tan terrier with a knack for irony.

In this book Bow Wow holds a conversation with a confused chick that makes a variety of decidedly non chick-like sounds, from a honk to a clunk. Bow Wow disapproves, of course.

STORYLINE

As I’ve already described, the storyline could not be more simple. The chick makes a sound that it should not make, and Bow Wow disapprovingly says “No”. Finally the chick makes the right sound. This almost ridiculously simple storyline works amazingly well because of its short length, clear cartoon illustrations, and the choice of wording which has universal appeal to toddlers. What toddler have you met that didn’t like books of sounds, or that didn’t love to say “No” at every opportunity? It’s the chance for a toddler to point out when someone else is wrong, something that should delight little kids that are always being corrected themselves.

ARTWORK

The artwork has a repetitive cartoon simplicity where from page to page there is very little variation. Sound boring? It’s far from it. Rather than being so simple that it’s dull, it’s so simple that it’s ridiculously funny, especially for younger children that are easily overwhelmed by too much on a page. My pre-verbal son was quick to pick up on the irony of the pictures and the storyline and would laugh and laugh at the expression on Bow Wow’s face each time the chick made the wrong sound.

The illustration style obviously borrows from simplistic cartoons such as the old cartoon strips that come with Bazooka bubblegum. Simple black linework with bright colors. The only change to the chick is that its beak opens when it makes sounds, and Bow Wow’s face changes only to furrow his brow in disapproval. It’s amazing how quickly a young child will pick up on this, and how funny it can be for them.

EDUCATIONAL & ENTERTAINMENT VALUE

Hard to believe that a book with only 12 words can have both entertainment value and educational value… But it’s true. This book teaches humor and irony, subtle facial expressions, and a variety of sounds. It also has taught my 20 month old son how to sight-read “No”, “Honk” and a few other words that he sees elsewhere. Adding to the 12 words by saying “Noooo! A chick doesn’t say HONK, what says honk? A car says honk! A goose says honk!” you can stretch the ‘educational’ factor even further. Entertainment value comes from the irony of the illustrations and words, and through learning to make all of the sounds. My son doubles over every single time he yells “PEEP!” triumphantly. Oddly enough this book isn’t too irritating to read again and again for the 9,000 times that my son has requested.

AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

This cartoonist-author-screenwriter-illustrator-designer crew of two from Brooklyn New York are a great team with some interesting credits to their name.

Mark Newgarden is a cartoonist, author, screenwriter and the creator of many novelties for children, including the tremendously popular Garbage Pail Kids. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Megan Montague Cash has illustrated, designed, and written for the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Nick Jr. Family Magazine, Scholastic Books, Viking Juvenile, eeBoo toys, and other enterprises. She is also the author and illustrator of I Saw The Sea and the Sea Saw Me. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

QUALITY & CONSTRUCTION

This 6″ square board book is 18 pages long and has traditional boardbook binding that resists tearing and creasing nicely. Overall it’s very well made, and has glossy colorful pages. Great quality for the pricepoint.

BOTTOM LINE

Fun fun fun. If your child likes sounds and simple graphics, or has recently dicovered the word “No”, expect to read it quite a few times.