ROAR OF A SNORE

Rhythm, rhyme, repetition and a charming surprise ending (with an amusing coda) make this a likely winner with the preschool set. From sleepless Jack, who first hears the enormous snore, to Mama Gwyn, Baby Sue, Papa Ben, twins Josie Jo and Jennie Lynn (inexplicably sleeping on the porch swing), and ending with a barn full of animals, all are intent on searching for the source of the snore. The unlikely culprit? A tiny lost kitten, asleep in the hayloft. Pratt’s paintings offer slightly off-kilter perspectives and feature somewhat blocky figures. The lack of much background detail keeps the focus squarely on the action, while dark tones reinforce the night-time setting. The repeated cumulative refrain will encourage audience participation, whether listeners are in a group at storytime or enjoying a private nighttime read-aloud. Listeners will also enjoy speculating on just what neighbor Molly Olsen does when she hears the snore. Simple and satisfying. (Picture book. 3-6)