Eek! - by Julie Larios

Book Synopsis

Make some noise for the most fun alphabet book you'll read this year! A lively, engaging read aloud just right for toddlers and preschoolers.

Author Julie Larios teams up with award-winning author and illustrator Julie Paschkis to lead young readers on a humorous, boisterous parade through the alphabet―letter by letter and sound by noisy sound!

This charming story begins quietly as Mouse selects a flower for someone very dear to him. Then the fun kicks in! To complete his journey, Mouse must make his way through the alphabet. One sniff of his special flower―"Achoo!"―and a bee flies out―"Bzzz!" Readers will love meeting the colorful characters along Mouse's trek and will cheer when he reaches his destination and presents the flower to.... Well, that part of the story is a surprise!

Larios and Paschkis have produced an entertaining combination of clever onomatopoeic wordplay and lively art that's ideal for educators seeking fun, interactive read-alouds, story time, and for preschoolers learning oral language. It's sure to delight young fans and inspire them to create imaginary alphabet adventures of their own.

Review Quotes

"Charming. . . adorable, brightly colored illustrations. . . Parents, teachers, and caregivers will enjoy the artwork and the opportunity to work on oral language. . . . A lovely and fun addition to an early childhood collection or for early literacy experiences." --School Library Journal

★ "This clever take on the alphabet book lets readers fill in the story on their own. . . . Paschkis' folk-art-inspired illustrations, filled with movement, pattern, and color, practically leap off the page. . . . An absolute zoo of an ABC book--in the best possible way."--Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Vibrant colors prevail in Julie Paschkis's lively folk art. . . Children ages 2-5 who like a bit of noise with their books will enjoy these bright and buoyant pages." --The Wall Street Journal

"[An] entertainingly madcap alphabet adventure. . . Paschkis provides delicate drawings. . . The solidly colored backgrounds pop with eye-catching hues. . . Paschkis keeps the compositions from becoming cluttered. Viewers will delight in narrating the action, particularly given the boisterous sounds occurring all throughout the book, and in spotting and naming all the animals that appear." --The Horn Book Magazine

About the Author

Julie Larios is an award-winning poet whose work for adults has been included twice in The Best American Poetry series. With children, she loves exploring riddles, rhymes, chants, blessings, curses, playground songs, and the amazing music and mystery of words. She has also published several picture books. She lives in Bellingham, Washington.

Julie Paschkis grew up in Pennsylvania, then attended Cornell University and the School for American Craftsmen at RIT, where she earned a BFA. She taught art to grade-school children for several years while working on her own art and illustration. Julie now works full-time painting, designing textiles, creating commercial illustrations, and illustrating children's books. An award-winning illustrator and author of books for children, she displays her love of pattern and folk art in all of her illustration work. She lives in Seattle, Washington.