The Great Aaa-Ooo

Watch out! Open this book very carefully because there's something inside making a terrible noise! One night in the dark, rackety wood, mouse scampered homeward when he heard an awful sound. AAA-OOO! AAA-OOO! Who's making that horrible howl? Mouse was nervous - such a terrible sound must come from a terrible monster. Owl has been disturbed by the dreadful racket and Bear has been woken from his slumbers by the hullabaloo. Together, they perch up in the tree - Mouse, Owl and Bear - wondering and worrying about what could be making the AAA-OOO! Soon, the tree is rather crowded, with Moose, Duck, Goose and Dove, joining Mouse, Owl and Bear in the safety of the tree. Nervous and afraid they wait for the scary thing that is making that dreadful sound. Bear scoops Wolf Cub from the ground, hauling him up into the branches and away from danger. Surely whatever is making that terrible howl is a monster - boggley-eyed, hairy and scary, with big claws and giant teeth - and it will want to eat them (plucked, stuffed, roasted and put in a pie). Terrified, the motley crew clamber further up into the tree, higher and higher, until, SNAP! The branches break and the animals go tumbling down with a honk, bellow, hoot, coo, thwack, smack, squeak and an awful AAA-OOO! This is such a fun little story. The simple, vibrant illustrations of the animals and the tree, created in a collage style, stand out upon the solid-black background, adding to the feeling of darkness and night. The text is in bold white print, like moonlight, using capitalisation for effect. The Great AAA-OOO! would be a fantastic starting point for talking about worries and fears and how things are not always as bad as they seem. The animals are all afraid of the AAA-OOO and what might happen when it gets closer. But none of them really know what it is; soon their worries have become a monster themselves. Once the animals have discovered what the AAA-OOO actually was they realise there was nothing to be afraid of. The language in The Great AAA-OO! uses all manner of techniques and is well worth investigating. Children can find rhyme, alliteration and a whole orchestra of onomatopoeia within the pages. The Great AAA-OOO! is a brilliant story about fear and friendship and would make an incredibly enjoyable read aloud story for younger children. Picture Book / Ages 3+ / Reviewed by Torie Walton, teacher.

Suggested Reading Age 3+