Chil­dren’s

Can You Hear a Coo, Coo?

Jamie Kif­fel-Alcheh; Marc Lumer, illus.

  • Review
By – February 14, 2018

This board book tells the sto­ry of Noah’s Ark through sim­ple and amus­ing illus­tra­tions accom­pa­nied by a text full of ani­mal sounds and move­ment words. Read­ing the book is a live­ly, inter­ac­tive learn­ing expe­ri­ence. As chil­dren look at the col­or images of the ani­mals, they can imi­tate the sounds and motions that the ani­mals make. Only at the end does Noah’s fam­i­ly appear and board the Ark along with their charges, as they enter two by two to avoid the stormy weather.

The sto­ry can be used to impart tra­di­tion­al Bib­li­cal con­tent or not, as the par­ent or preschool teacher wish­es. Either way, this is a fun shared expe­ri­ence for a child and adult or, per­haps, an old­er sib­ling, and is per­fect for ages 1 through 5.

Mindy Langer is a retired pedi­a­tri­cian and grand­moth­er of two. She vol­un­teers in numer­ous capac­i­ties for her syn­a­gogue and is vol­un­teer read­er of med­ical texts for Learn­ing Ally, a ser­vice that pro­vides record­ed books for stu­dents with print dis­abil­i­ties. She sings in a large com­mu­ni­ty choir and is an avid quil­ter. In choos­ing books for chil­dren she most enjoys those that are both chal­leng­ing and fun for the chil­dren as well as enter­tain­ing for the adults read­ing to them.

Discussion Questions