View source for Hullabaloo! by Gordon Volke and Fenix

{{infobox2
|title=Hullabaloo!
|author=Gordon Volke and Fenix
|reviewer=Jo Heffer
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=Zoos are always pretty noisy places but there is one zoo, in particular, that seems to have more than its fair share of noise and that is the zoo that you can read about in 'Hullabaloo!' This delightful picture book brings to life perfectly just what rumpus animals can make when they all get together – and it's beautifully illustrated too.
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=32
|publisher=Top That Publishing
|date=April 2011
|isbn=978-1849563055
|aznuk=1849563055
|aznus=1849563055
|cover=1849563055
}}

In 'Hullabaloo!' the reader meets a host of animals that all seem intent on making a huge amount of noise. First, there is a donkey named Drew who is soon joined by a cockatoo who squawks out 'Boo!' There are also twin chimps called Daisy and Maisy enjoying their tea as well as hopping bunnies, a calf called Cassie (who moos a lot), downy ducklings, a kangaroo with her little joey, as well as many many more. As you can imagine, when they all get together they make an incredible hullabaloo as they get up to their varied antics. It's a great deal of fun and is a story that builds in such a way that it will really appeal to young children.

The story is written in a very appealing way because it has a cumulative effect. Each new page introduces a new animal as well as including the animals that came before. A new line is added at the top of each place but the rest of the text always remains the same. This means that there is a great deal of repetition which is ideal for young children who are desperate to join in with the story telling. For example, on the first page you read:

''There's a donkey called Drew''

''Making a hullabaloo at the zoo.''

The next page reads:

''There's a cockatoo who squawks out 'Boo!''

''And a donkey called Drew''

''Making a hullabaloo at the zoo.''

You will soon notice this is also a rhyming text that is great fun for small children as they can start predicting the rhyming word in each line which will help with their phonological awareness skills. It is very good for emerging readers, as it really draws attention well to the different spelling combinations of letters that produce words that rhyme with 'zoo' and drew'. My six year old daughter, who is becoming increasingly confident in her reading, loves joining in with this story, and the repetition in the text really helps her get to grips with some unfamiliar words, as well as her recognising the rhyming words with all of the alternative spellings.

Having said that though, she tells me that the best thing about 'Hullabaloo!' is the amazing illustrations. They are extremely bright and colourful but also very comical. She likes the fact that all of the animals that she has met before in the text do different things in each new picture, which of course become increasingly busier with the introduction of more and more animals. She particularly likes following what the chimps do and that includes them dancing on a table, giving each other piggybacks and wearing teapots on their heads.

Overall, 'Hullabaloo!' is an entertaining and entertaining story that I am sure will appeal to children of many ages. Both my daughters love reading it, and although we have not had the book for long, have already picked it up many times.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.

Another book that involves some noisy animals is [[Donkey's Busy Day by Natalie Russell]].  Fenix also illustrated [[Hic! by Jaclin Azoulay and Fenix|Hic! by Jaclin Azoulay]].  For more ducklings, try [[The Ugly Duckling by Mara Alperin and Sue Eastland]].

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[[Category:Gordon Volke]]
[[Category:Fenix]]
[[Category:Emerging Readers]]