________________ CM . . . . Volume XVIII Number 18 . . . . January 13, 2012

cover

Shake-Awakes.

Robert Heidbreder. Illustrated by Marc Mongeau.
Vancouver, BC: Tradewind Books (Distributed by Fitzhenry & Whiteside), 2011.
40 pp., hardcover, $18.95.
ISBN 978-1-896580-71-5.

Preschool-grade 2 / Ages 4-7.

Review by Natalie Schembri.

**** /4

   

excerpt:

Off to the kitchen...
For pots, pans, spoons
It's time to play...
Our SHAKE-AWAKE tunes.
Ladies and gentlemen, give a hand...
...to the one and only
TIN PAN BAND!


Robert Heidbreder's Shake-Awakes provides parents and children with entertainingly playful rhyming songs to assist with the process of getting out of bed in the morning.

internal art      Heidbreder divides 16 children's poems into two sections: wake-up calls for grown-up use only and wake-up calls for children's use only. There is no time for parents to sleep in when children are shouting the "Accidently" rhyme: "Oh no! Oh no! / We think it broke. / It sizzle-fizzled, billowing smoke..." And, children are bound to bounce out of bed when parents sing "The Toy Trolls" song: "Toy trolls are in your room. / They're ghastly green / and ghostly grim, as if they're from a tomb..."

      Crash! Smash! Splishity-Splash, this poetry collection offers young readers lively verses and engaging wordplay that make early reading a thrilling practice. Heidbreder delivers parents and young children a well-crafted collection of humorous poetry that will make waking up on early mornings a laughable experience. The rhyme scheme is extremely upbeat and makes Shake-Awakes a brilliant storytime read-aloud.

      Further, Marc Mongeau's watercolor illustrations delightfully capture Heidbreder's imaginative verse. Each poem's paired illustration adds a whimsical feel to an incredibly enjoyable read.

      Readers of all ages will walk away repeating the rhyming lines of Shake-Awakes. I highly recommend Heidbreder's poetry book for school and public library collections.

Highly Recommended.

Natalie Schembri, a recent UWO graduate and lifelong learner, resides in London, ON.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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