Author: Malachy Doyle
Illustrator: Ed Vere
Publisher: Candlewick, 2012
Ages: 3 and up
Themes: families, noise/quiet, tolerance
Opening: CRASH! JANGLE! Meet the Bungles – Whistle! Tweet! Toot!
Summary: (from my library catalogue) The Bungles sure are a large and noisy bunch! So noisy that Sam, the middle Bungle, has no room to think and is desperate to escape his booming, twooting, banging, clanging family. So off he wanders into the woods for some peace and quiet.
I like this book because: I love critters in picture books that I am not quite certain of – are the Bungles raccoons? Could be, maybe. And how Vere used silhouettes for all the other critters, aside from the family pet and a butterfly. Doyle lyrical flair shines through – he really knows how to imbibe rhythm without the use of a formal rhyme, though the main character surprises himself with one!
Resources/activities: What a great way to start a discussion on noise in the classroom and respecting others! I imagine the class could make a poster(s) of self portraits and have the kids make speech bubbles just like the ones in the book, an include some of there likes and dislikes that may or may not have to do with classroom behavior. And if you’re really into picture book making, head over to Picture Book Den, an informative blog Doyle shares with other others. AND here is a great review on the same book with fabulous activity suggestions at This Picture Book Life – HERE
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
julie rowan-zoch 