Book Review: Mice Squeak, We Speak by Arnold Shapiro, illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Updated: Oct 9
Mice Squeak, We Speak, a poem by Arnold Shapiro with pictures by Tomie dePaola, is a short, rhyming book all about sounds. It's perfect for a senses week because it gets kids listening closely and making noises of their own.
What it's about
Animal after animal makes its own sound: cats purr, lions roar, owls hoot, bees buzz and dogs growl. On each page, the children in the book listen. At the end they share what makes people special: we speak!
Why we like it
The rhyme and repetition make it easy for toddlers to join in. dePaola's gentle, colorful pictures are full of animals and kids to point to. And it's interactive by design: you'll be squeaking, roaring and buzzing together before you finish the first read.
How to read it with your little one
Make every animal sound together. Take turns being the animal.
Pause before each sound and let your child fill it in.
After reading, listen for real sounds: a dog outside, a car going by, the fridge humming.
Good to know
Best for: ages 1–4
Read time: about 3 minutes
Pairs with: today's Crunch Test (listening while eating) and today's Talk About It
Get the book:Get it on Amazon · It's also easy to find at your local library.
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More for this week: see all our Five Senses activities, Letter D activities and Number 4 activities.
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