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The second title in series Preschool Pretend–I Am a Squeak–is a playful, performative read-aloud where children become animals that leap, nibble, fly, and snuggle. As daylight fades, readers follow some squeaky creatures through their habitats. A red squirrel races home at the end of the day. A dolphin leaps through sunset waves. A mouse nibbles on an evening snack. At dusk, a bat wakes up and prepares to fly, and a bunny searches for a cozy bed, while a sleepy fawn settles into the grass. With face-painted children, real animal sounds, and clues hidden in both words and illustrations, readers are invited to guess each animal before the page-turn reveal.
I am a squeak.
Eeek! Eeek!
Evening snacks
make my whiskers twitch.
Nibble-nip. Nibble-nip!
I am a… MOUSE!
With lively, rhythmic text that's perfect for reading aloud, I Am a Squeak introduces children to squeaky animals and their habitats. Kids don’t just read this book—they embody the animals through clues and sounds with each turn of the page. The companion title to Winters’ I Am a Growl, this title is perfect for kids curious about animals and early science. These movements also align with kindergarten and primary curricula (e.g., drama, dance, and physical education).
Author Kari-Lynn Winters, known for Double-Up Day, Good Pirate, What If I’m Not a Cat, and I Am a Growl, furthers her exploration into an exciting new story format—designed especially for children who are just beginning to discover the world outside their home. Her energetic, engaging text invites active participation and inspires young minds to grow through curiosity and imagination.
“A cute animal guessing game conveyed through simple text and bright photos.
Each page features a close-up stock photo of a youngster with an expertly painted face and maybe an appropriate accessory or two (bunny ears, antlers). The accompanying text is in sans serif type, with clear but riddling language, arranged in lines with lots of white space. The titular line is included on each spread: “I am a squeak. / Cleek-cleek! / Up from the sea. / Sunset splashes— / spin and leap!” Turn the page for a vivid color photo of the animal hinted at by the preceding clues (in this case, a dolphin; other creatures include a squirrel, a mouse, and a bat); fat squiggly type identifies the animal. The final photo shows a child asleep, wearing an animal-themed eye mask and clutching a dress-wearing teddy. The book closes with “Facepainting Tips” and an explanation of what the various “squeaks” communicate (play, news, contentment), along with an invitation to make some squeaks of the listener’s own. The final stand-alone photo shows a laughing child with elaborate bat eye-designs. The subjects are mostly but not exclusively pale. The thrill will last for a read or two, with the listener or beginning reader using deduction to arrive at a winning guess. Fun for a few rounds of perceptive deduction, wordless expression, and masked pretending.” (Informational picture book. 3-6)"—Kirkus Reviews