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Five Faves: Onomatopeia

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Snap! Zip! Creeeeeeeeeeeak. KaPOW! We have lots of words that sound like the noise they represent. These are especially awesome in read-alouds because hey can help us say words in a funny way that engages the children we're reading to. If you or your child enjoys funny words and onomatopeia, here are five books you'll love!

Written by Deborah Kerbel
Illustrated by Jacqui Lee
Victoria, British Columbia: Orca Book Publishers, 2022. Board Book.

The age old story of a child who doesn't want to go to bed, but obviously needs to. Using just a few onomatopeic words per page, a child's bedtime routine is described, as well as her reluctance. This is sure to give young kids plenty of words to use to describe the sounds of their own getting-ready-for-bed activities.

By Janik Coat
New York: Abrams Appleseed, 2024. Board Book.

Onomatopeia... with a panda! Go through a day with panda, all while it discovers the different sounds of its life: the "Brrriiing" of the alarm clock, the "drip, drop" of the rain, and "munch" of yummy food. Children are sure to have fun copying the actions panda does and making the sounds to go with them.

By Anna Walker
Minneapolis, Minnesota: Scribble, an imprint of Scribe Publications, 2022.

Frog is exploring the forest and making her way to a frog party, but she needs to be careful of the hungry animals stalking nearby! Come follow our frog friend as she "drop"s into a pond, "tip, toe, tip, toe"s past predators and makes her way to other frogs recounting their adventures. A fun look at onomatopeia with adventure sprinkled in.

By Yuko Ohnari and Koshiro Hata
Translated by Emily Balistieri
Brooklyn, NY: Red Comet Press, 2025.

Translated from Japanese, a young child learns to love the sights, smells, and sounds of a rainstorm. Accompanied by beautiful art, a boy experiences a rainstorm from the beginning "rumble"s, to the hard downpour of rain on his umbrella, to the storm pittering away to quiet. He enjoys his storm so much he then needs to make his own by bringing his umbrella into the shower.

By Victoria Allenby
Toronto: Pajama Press Inc., 2021.

Told in rhythmic onomatopeia, Allenby describes several types of train cars and the sound they make. From the "chuff-a gruff-a" of the engine to the "rattle-tattle" of the boxcar, this train is a symphony of sound. Sure to please all train lovers, this book will having kids chanting the different noises of a train.
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