Snap! Crackle! Pop! Onomatopoeia can be a powerful tool for making your story (or TV commercial) stand out! Books can be plot-driven or character-driven, but sometimes a picture book is purely language-driven-- word choice is the primary vehicle for moving the story along. Onomatopoeia can make your manuscript fun, memorable and unique. These five fabulous picture books use onomatopoeia to great effect!
Corey Rosen Schwartz is the author of THE THREE NINJA PIGS and several other rhyming picture books and fractured fairy tales. Corey has no formal ninja training, but she sure can kick butt in Scrabble. She lives with three Knuckleheads in Warren, NJ.
Kindergarteners LOVE fun language! If it has onomatopoeia, I will read it to my class!
ReplyDeleteOnomatopoeia adds oomph? Definitely! These are fun books. Thanks, Corey
ReplyDeleteNoisy Night is a favorite of mine. Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteI also like Noisy Night. The others are really fun also. Thanks Corey.
ReplyDeleteWe all love some Snap, Crackle, Pop in our picture books! Thanks for these recommendations that employ onomatopoeia, Corey!
ReplyDeleteI love how you call it a "lanugage-driven picture book." That is my favorite to read and to write! (I also adore your books!) I have to get my hands on four of these, but I love Noisy Night. Can't wait to read Cow Says Meow, especially!
ReplyDeleteLove the onomatopoeia- but not how hard that is to spell! gee whiz- I'd love to make an easilia version of the complopia onomatopoeia.... anyway, language fun is a spice of life, and helps kids get into words and literature in such a wholesome way. Thanks for the examples!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Corey, love a book with lots of onomatopoeia. Great examples!
ReplyDeleteMy first manuscript is about the joy of language so I’m excited to look at these mentor texts!
ReplyDeleteI love the concept of a language-driven book. These are so fun to read aloud. I think CHARLIE PARKER PLAYED BEBOP by Chris Raschka would also fall in this category.
ReplyDeleteI love a good language driven book! These all look especially fun! Can't go wrong with a little sizzle, bang, or boom! Thanks for the fun books to read and investigate today!
ReplyDeleteI love reading onomatopoeia to kids. Thanks for sharing these lively examples, Corey.
ReplyDeleteHi Corey, Advice from the master at snap, crackle, pop and word play! Thanks so much for the mentor texts that focus on language driven picture books.
ReplyDeleteMoo moo baa baa la la la! These are great read alouds! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreat examples of fun, lively books. Onomatopoeia makes great read alouds. Thanks for the great post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post. I loved Noisy Night and Wonky Donkey. I hope to find and read the others also.
ReplyDeleteSo much fun! Kids absolutely adore this lively language! 😀
ReplyDeleteI always try to include fabulous and fun words in my stories. Thanks for the great examples!
ReplyDeleteWhat I love most about an onomatopoeia book is getting the kids to make the fun sounds when you are reading to them. Shukran for introducing me to new ones!
ReplyDeleteI love everything about onomatopoeia...except trying to spell it!
ReplyDeleteYup!
DeleteFwip! Steeeerike! This post hit it out of the park!
ReplyDeleteI love onomatopoeia! Thank you for the mentor texts!
ReplyDeletePlop! Plop! Fizz! Fizz!
ReplyDeleteGive me as much onomatopoeia as can be squeezed into one book! Love it Corey!
I just wrote a story with onomatopoeia! It help stir the imagination and also fun to come up with the sounds. I agree with Lynn above... I always have to think first when I am spelling it. I wonder who came up with that word? 🤗
ReplyDeleteThese were all fun books to read. Noisy Night wasn't too far off when u live in an apartment building, and it was great fun! My 5 year old giggled all through Cow Says Meow. Thank you for a wo default reading list!
ReplyDeleteI love onomatopoeia - wish I could spell it! Thanks for sharing these fun mentor texts.
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo - such great onomatopoeia books and such a fun and fabulous prize. Meow! Thanks for sharing, Corey!
ReplyDeleteCorey, your work always crackles w/fun language! Thanks for sharing these examples.
ReplyDeleteI recently came across The Thingity-Jig and loved it. Popping onomatopaeia into a story can make it pop! Thanks for the reading list.
ReplyDeleteI love when language moves a story along. Thanks for this great list, Corey!
ReplyDeleteI did a project with onomatopoeia and one of my absolute favorites was "Ms. Dhruv says... blah blah blah." Though I might sound like Charlie Brown's teacher to her, it made me laugh! I think the addition of sounds can be so powerful and add a layer to the story to make it come alive.
ReplyDeleteUse of onomatopoeia is the best! Great book choices, Corey!
ReplyDeleteThank you for these mentor texts! I look forward to the release of The Thingity-Jig. It looks so good.
ReplyDeleteOnomatopoeia is always fun. Thanks for sharing some favorites.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun with onomatopoeia today! I loved Noisy Night. Such a simple yet excellent concept that keeps kids guessing on every page. Also loved seeing Kirsti and her son reading Cow Says Meoww on the FB video. Absolutely fun and adorable! Thanks for the share.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these great books. The added word play makes for great read-aloudabilty!
ReplyDeleteThanks for these great examples of Onomatopoeia!
ReplyDeleteWhen I taught children with special needs at the elementary school level, I loved to see how engaged the children were when I read picture books to them. I observed their expressions. Creative instruction using picture books with onomatopoeia and expressive oral language brought forth such joyful responses.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Corey, for these fun “read-alouds” and for the reminder that onomatopoeia is a powerful tool to make our stories stand out.
Thank you. Thank you. I have to read the Thingity Jig!
ReplyDeleteA great reminder to add 'ZING' to your manuscripts. :)
ReplyDeleteAs a retired school librarian I know first hand how much kids love books that are sound driven. I couldn't quite picture myself writing a whole book that incorporates sound such as this list by Corey Rosen Schwartz. However after reading them I would really like to try. They are all such great read alouds. I was not able to get a copy of The Thingity Jig by Kathy Doherty because it's release date is April first but I will definitely be reading it when I can. It sounds like this book uses sounds that go with devices needed to move a couch or "thingity jig" home with bear who discovered it. I loved the use of made-up words like Rolly Rumpity and Pushy Poppity and will definitely try out that technique. Cow Says Meow by Kirsti Call and illustrated by Brandon Scott was just released but I was able to watch a very cool video featuring both of them at a release party and did view Kirsti and her son reading the book. I think it would definitely be a great book to read in parts with kids. Her son read the narrator parts and she did the animal parts but certainly readers could be assigned an animal. I loved the way the animals were connected by making the wrong sounds creating a fantastic cummulative story. Noisy Night by Mac Bartnett is one I have read with kids and they love to guess who or what is making the given sounds above each character's head. I would very much like to try writing a story that is as interactive as most of these.Barnyard Boogie by Jim and Janet Post, illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos combines the use of made up words, onomotapoeia, rhyme and is a puppet book as well.This would certainly be a great book to do with a group or class of kids. I loved the unique characters such as the linky slinky jazz cat, and the greedy eaty billy goat and the wacky quacky pond duck to name a few. It is a really clever book. Wonkey Donkey by Craig Smith is one I have read with kids very successfully. As soon as you get done they want to hear it again. They love repeating each additional adjective to add to the donkey's total description. My favorite part is that he is cranky because he didn't have coffee but the kids like that he gets into mischief and smells really bad. The kids love the song as well and of course the literal "end" of the story.This group of texts is so much fun. I really want to try to write a fun sound driven book after reading these. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestions. I never thought about a book as being language-driven, so thanks for a different way to think about structure.
ReplyDeleteCOREY: OH, I am SUCH A FAN of your work! You TRULY know the art of using language in the FUNNEST of ways--as well as the MOST RHYTHMIC of ways--to GRAB the reader's attention, and NEVER let go. THANK YOU for ALL of your own AMAZING book examples that teach this, as well as the ones you have listed for us here. We can learn SO MUCH from these mentor texts! THANK YOU for the INSPIRATION to INFUSE our writing with more rhythm and fun!
ReplyDeleteWow, that Wonky Donkey is a mouthful!! Thank you for your book choices.
ReplyDeleteThank you Corey for these great books focused on onomatopoeia! I am intrigued by the Thingity-Jig - just from the title!
ReplyDeleteI can attest that onomatopoeia is really effective according to the reactions and repetitions from my grandsons. They really lighten up when they can repeat these popping words and they want the book read over and over again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for list! I love how the use of sounds will really bring the children into a story and encourage their participation.I have a question: when using sounds in a story, do I, as the author, have the option of spelling them as they sound to me or do I have to stick to the traditional way?
DeleteNoisy Night is a great example. I look forward to the release of The Thingity Jig. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletethanks, Corey, for these fun book titles.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these picture books. Onomatopoeia makes for such a fun read aloud.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the titles!
ReplyDeleteOnomatopoeia is such fun! These books were a tasty treat. Yum. Yum. Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there are any "quiet picture books" that are language-driven using onomatopoeia?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your super post! I’m a fan of Noisy Night!
ReplyDeleteOnomatopoeia adds so much fun to the language of picture books.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Corey.
Suzy Leopold
When I was reading to my own boys -- ages and ages ago! -- they LOVED books with silly sounds they could make and they would wait in anticipation for the moment to jump in and "read" it with their own voices. Chicka Chicka Boom will always have a place in my heart for those on-the-lap, shoulder-to-shoulder hours.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! My current WIP is all about ona(ahhh can't spell that word) onomatopoeia. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSo much fun! Thanks for sharing these titles. I found the video of the giggling Scottish grandma reading The Wonky Donkey. If you haven't seen it, it is worth watching! What a fun book and what a great experience for the baby to see his Grandma have so much fun with a book!
ReplyDeleteInteresting selection. I would never buy or read the Wonky Donkey to a child. From beginning to end it makes fun of people with disabilities. I haven't been able to find some of the others. I look forward to reading Cow Says Meow. Thanks for the list.
ReplyDeleteI was sad to read this one. A wonky donkey could be wonky for so many other reasons than having a disability. Thanks for saying something, and I couldn't agree more. - Dena Davis aka Stories by the Sea
DeleteGreat ideas, Corey! Reading is such an “audio” thing we need to capitalize on that more! Thanks for sharing these titles.
ReplyDeleteLOVE onomatopoeia! Thanks for this post and these fun recommendations!
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestions. You're clearly an expert! I am on the hunt for more examples and hope to add clever word-play like those in your sample books into my own writing. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteCorey - thank you. Love your book(What About Moose?). Making these sounds also help emerging readers with pronunciation and they love it if the reader makes the sounds too. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteonomatopoeia...music to my ears! Great examples. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOnomatopoeia is my favorite poetic technique—along with so many others, LOL. These are great examples!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Corey! Onomatopoeia is such a fun tool!
ReplyDeleteOnomatopoeia is a great way to liven up a story. Great reading recommendations!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Corey, for your great list of language-driven picture books. So much fun!
ReplyDeleteHow PBs sounds when read aloud is so important. Thanks for sharing these books.
ReplyDeleteI love stories with onomatopoeia and these all look so fantastic! Thanks so much for the great post, Corey!
ReplyDeleteGreat examples of onomatopoeia used to fabulous effect! I love Corey's books too! Thank you for this post.
ReplyDeleteLove these examples!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these amazing language-driven mentor tests. Love The Wonky Donkey especially
ReplyDeleteThe books tickled me. They are definitely OUT LOUD reading books. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThese books were so much fun! I don't have little kids but I read them aloud to myself for some linguistic fun. I love the creativity of language! Thank you for sharing these reads.
ReplyDeleteOnomatopoeia is always fun! Thank you for reminding us.
ReplyDeleteOnomatopoeia is definitely fun! I am going to try to check out these books. My Japanese friends tell me that in their culture, onomatopoeia is used frequently in conversation.
ReplyDeleteI read most of these, the ones I could get a hold of, and they are so fun. These are such helpful books even when not writing a language-driven book because, no matter what, the language has to sing.
ReplyDeleteI even love the word Onomatopoeia.
ReplyDeleteThanks for these fun mentor texts, Corey!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun post, Corey. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSuch fun, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI like to sprinkle onomatopoeia throughout the manuscript, but I can see why kids adore books where onomatopoeia itself is the focus.
ReplyDeleteCorey, thank you for these fun books which do pop with terrific onomatopoeia. One of my favorites is IN THE QUIET NOISY WOODS by Michael J. Rosen.
ReplyDeleteGreat mentor texts. I love how The Wonky Donkey grows by adding onto the beginning of each stanza.
ReplyDeleteJoining the others in saying what fun it is to read books sprinkled and seasoned with onomatopoeia. My Pre-K class enjoyed predicting just what sound would come next in such books. We all had giggles! Thanks, Corey!
ReplyDeleteevafelder@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThank you Corey for today's book selection. I just finished reading one of your books. Goldi Rocks and The Three Bears is such a creative interpretation of the old story.
The Thingity- Jig is not available until April but I found an interesting article: The story behind the Story at Literallylynnemarie.blogspot.com dated Monday March 01. So fascinating how a book is born and grows.
Kathleen Doherty donates 100% of her Author earning to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Noisy Night was my favorite today, it reminded me of my life in a building when I was small. The Onomatopoeia is so much fun for both the reader and the listener.
Onomatopoeia is so much fun, but I feel like it is also easy to do badly. Great examples of doing it well.
ReplyDeleteI think these are the most fun kind of children's books. And they appeal to a wide age range, which makes them perfect for a multi-age audiences (story time events, multi-child households, etc.).
ReplyDeleteYou know it's a good thing when a PB begs to be read aloud, as do each of these. Mac Barnett knocked it out of the park with his clever follow-the-noise up each apartment floor. I'm wondering if calling a three-legged donkey "wonky" might be a bit insensitive, especially in today's kind climate.
ReplyDeleteI often struggle with spelling and incorporating onomatopoeia in my stories. Great list!
ReplyDeleteI’ve read Kirsti Call’s book & loved it! Onomatopoeia absolutely adds to the enjoyment of hearing an orally read story. Children love to hear sounds in stories. Loved this post!
ReplyDeleteSO fun! Thanks for the laugh.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading, "sometimes a picture book is purely language-driven"! Language driven is actually how I'd describe a book I'm working on currently. I'm wait listed for all the books on your list -- can't wait to read them. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm a HUGE fan of onomatopoeia! Thanks for sharing these books with us!
ReplyDeleteI loved Noisy Night, like a modern day Brown Bear, Brown Bear, in a way. However, I would be surprised if Wonky Donkey could ever get published today with the references to a donkey with a prosthetic leg being "wonky" and blind in one eye as "winky" when there has been so much emphasis on ableist language in our culture recently. I don't like that it makes fun of disabilities for word play. Can't imagine a disabled or blind child enjoying that very much and I wouldn't want to teach other kids that this is OK. Apparently I'm in the minority since others seemed to enjoy this book.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Thanks for saying something. Words matter.
DeleteI love books with fun wordplay and onomatopoeia! Thanks for sharing the awesome list of mentor texts.
ReplyDeleteStill looking for the cow book but loved the others. And looking to add things to my bland manuscripts.
ReplyDeleteThanks Corey, Onomaopoeia elevates any story! Thank you for sharing a couple of great examples of Onomatapoeia at work.
ReplyDeleteLove onomatopoeias! Such a great list, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing some of your favorite examples. Now I'm off to enjoy some onomatopoeia!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Corey! I'm pretty excited about "Cow Says Meow" - loved "Mootilda's Bad Mood" as well. Those chickens!
ReplyDeletePlus, onomatopoeia is such a great word!
ReplyDeleteI love to use fun words! Great choices
ReplyDeleteThank you, Corey! So much fun! I'm adding onomatopoeia in my newest manuscript and looking forward to receiving feedback from my crit partners in how it elevates my story.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading/watching the stories highlighting onomatopoeia I feel a little more confident to play around with the concept in a few of my drafts. Cow Says Meow will be a great read for teachers because they can extend the theme to so many fun activities. Noisy Night presented a story layout of using onomatopoeia to escalate the tension. I'm still trying to find The Thingity Jig.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't find most of these books, boo-hoo! :(
ReplyDeleteI LOVE onomatopoeia...other than spelling it!
ReplyDeleteI like this idea of books that live and die by the language rather than plot or characterization. I hadn't thought of it that way before. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI adore the added element of sound, and so do my students -these are the parts I hear echoing in the room long after the reading!
ReplyDeleteClick went the lightbulb, crackle went the brain, tappity-tap went the keyboard.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Corey.
Great to read these examples as I have a story full of sound rattling around in my head waiting get out!
ReplyDeleteI just LOVE your version of the three pigs - what a master class in promoting girl power, stead study, and all wrapped up in a joyful word romp. Thanks for your choices but I liked your book best!
ReplyDeleteThank you! The Wonkey Donkey is amazing!
ReplyDeleteKids love onomatopoeia even if they can't say it-ironic! Thanks-can't wait to see Kirsti's new book!
ReplyDeleteFun post today, and good reads! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great list of texts, Corey! Figurative language adds so much to stories!
ReplyDeleteBAM! Nailed it, Corey!
ReplyDeleteGreat choice. Books with onomatopoeia are great to read aloud.
ReplyDeleteOnomatopoeia, onomatopoeia, onomatopoeia ... I have to practice spelling it! LOL It's a fantastic tool in picture book writing - thank goodness it's easier to implement than it is to spell! Also makes for a great read-aloud! Thank you, Corey!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteLanguage driven books are my favorites, hands down. Need to read all of these ASAP!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder about how much fun onomatopoeia can add to a text. I appreciate the suggested mentor texts also.
ReplyDeleteI love the language in these. Thank you, Corey!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Corey! I never thought of onomatopoeia as language-driven books--just fun to read and write, even if it drives spellcheck nuts. A couple of your mentor books weren't available in my network of 150+ regional libraries, but not a problem, since I've checked out dozens of books over the years to study how they bounce along with fun, zany words.
ReplyDeleteGreat list. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun it is to read these stories. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love some good onomatopoeia? SWOOOOSH!
ReplyDeleteGreat examples--so fun for read alouds!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Corey! I just re-read The Wonky Donkey and it is just as fun as ever (maybe not super PC, of course) but SO much fun to read! Can't wait to read The Thingity-jig and Cow Says Meow! Can't find them at my library just yet!
ReplyDeleteSuch fun read-alouds! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletethanks for the reminder that books can be language driven!
ReplyDeleteLove onomatopoeia! and all sorts of other wordplay. Makes dinner with the family into a game, LOL. Thanks for sharing these fabulous books!
ReplyDeleteGreat examples of fun read-aloud books!
ReplyDeleteThe add-on effect of THE WONKY DONKEY was great! Songs make good picture books.
ReplyDeleteI remember laughing hysterically the first time I saw the video of the grandmother reading Wonky Donkey to her infant grandchild. Then I purchased my own copy to study further. Finally I shared a little book love with giving it away as part of my PAY A BOOK FORWARD event. Some of my stories are just meant to be enjoyed...not for any other reason than the pure enjoyment of the moment...
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
LOVE ONOMATOPOEIA! Thank for all the great mentor texts. Can't wait to dig in.
ReplyDeleteThe wonky donkey! What a great use of using style for read-aloud-ability and just a great way to add fun.
ReplyDeleteSo much fun read-aloud opportunities in these books...great list!
ReplyDeletelove, love, love language driven books!
ReplyDeleteThank you for these delightful suggestions! Onomatopoeia is a skill I am only beginning to develop, though I have always loved wordplay. Can't wait to dive into these mentor texts.
ReplyDeleteGreat book suggestions! Onomatopoeia is so much fun! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI heard Kirstin read A Cow Says Meow last night on pB Mechanic. She spoke how much she enjoys working with you.
ReplyDeleteAnd onomatopoeia makes for such fun read-alouds!
ReplyDeleteThese were a hoot! Loved Noisy Night. My kids said they wouldn't want to live in where people on top of them would be making noise. lol. Cow says moo has a song too! Great suggestions!!!
ReplyDeleteThese books are fun to read and hear. Kids love them. Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these- I enjoyed some new ones! Such fun to read out loud with kids.
ReplyDeleteThese sound elements are the parts kids echo in the room long after the reading!
ReplyDeleteKids love books where they can join in making sounds. Looking forward to reading a couple of these newer books on this list.
ReplyDeleteOnomatopoeia is my favorite!! Thanks for this great list, Corey!
ReplyDeleteLove these selections. Already picked up The Cow Says Meow. Love the illustrations and the simplicity of this book!
ReplyDeleteNeed to check these out, thank you. Watersong by Tim McCanna is a masterwork of a language-driven story, happy to have more to check out.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this list!
ReplyDeleteMakes for such great read-a-louds! Thanks for these terrific examples!
ReplyDeleteI love word play and using sound words in my stories. I'm going to learn how to spell onomatopoeia one of these days without looking it up! Ha! Looking forward to Thingety Jig. Thanks, Corey!
ReplyDeleteOnomatopoeia.. thank goodness for spell check. Word driven books get children anticipating and participating! Thanks for the mentor texts.
ReplyDeletePlayful word choice can make a story fun to read aloud. Those same word choices while fun to some can cause harm to others. If only the author of the Wonky Donkey had chosen another way to show the donkey being wonky. Let's all make sure our words help children instead of harm.
ReplyDeleteOnomatopoeia is not only fun to hear, it also can provide the perfect pace & page turning tool when used properly. Spelling "onomatopoeia" is an entirely different beast!
ReplyDeleteGreat examples - thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Corey, for this list of fun books. I look forward to reading them, maybe out loud!
ReplyDeleteAs a former kindergarten teacher, I know the importance of Onomatopoeia in stories! Nothing engages children more than words that are sounds, they make a story pop!
ReplyDeleteI was little English geek from a young age--I'm proud to say by BF and I made an Onomatopoeia song that we sang for months. And there was a dance. It was fire!
ReplyDeleteLove onomatopoeia but not spelling it. Noisy Night is a great selection! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFun books and I love language. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat examples. The Wonkey Donkey is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThanks for these titles!
ReplyDeleteI saw the video of the woman reading Wonkey Donkey. Hilarious.
ReplyDeleteIt's such fun to play with words. Thank you.
Onomatopoeia is not only powerful, it’s fun! As a newly retired music teacher
ReplyDeletewho closed every session with a picture book, I was always on the lookout for
books that creatively incorporated sound and repeated phrases to engage my kiddos.
“Barnyard Boogies was a fave. Thank you for these additions to our huge pile of mentor texts.
I could not find “Thingity-jig” but oh my heavens ~ “Wonkey Donkey!
So much fun! Thanks for these great titles!
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of onomatopoeia (spelling?) And I love Noisy Night plus that gorgeous fun cover.
ReplyDeleteI love onomatopoeia! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove a PB with onomatopoeia--also a great way to get reader involved. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat examples - thank you! Love your books too.
ReplyDelete