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Summary
Summary
Harold is an amazing mimic, and can imitate the sound of everything in his home. Tired of repeating the same old noises, he yearns to find out what other voices there are in the big, wide world. But what happens when he suddenly realises that he doesn't yet have a voice of his own?This fantastic debut by author/illustrator Courtney Dicmas recounts Harold's hilarious tale. It's full of colour, humour and invention, and children will love to join in with Harold as he mimics everyday noises.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-A talented, colorful parrot mimics the sounds around his apartment. From the ring of the alarm clock to the whoosh of the washing machine, he soon grows tired of repeating the same noises and wonders what his own voice sounds like. One morning, he flies out of the window and into the vast world, where he discovers enchanting tones deep in the heart of the Paris metropolis. They range in size from the deep rumbles of a ship to melancholy notes of a cello. Readers will rejoice when Harold finally finds his voice ("Rawk!") and gains flocks of new friends, along with a new self-awareness and confidence. In the end, he still enjoys partaking in his apartment's din, but his own squawk makes him the happiest of all. Dicmas's debut has beautiful, bright, and vivid childlike illustrations. Scenes of the city streets and skylines are scattered throughout, while Harold's owner-a little girl in a striped sweater-blends vaguely into the surroundings. Storytellers will enjoy acting out the noises and children will giggle at Harold's kooky expressions and poses. Perfect for storytimes.-Krista Welz, The North Bergen Public Library, NJ (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
"Harold was a gifted bird," writes Dicmas about the flashy red parrot that stars in her debut children's book. "He could hear any sound just once and copy it perfectly." In the Parisian apartment Harold occupies with his owner, that means mimicking the "burble burble burble burble" of the percolator, the "gooooaal!" of a TV sportscaster, and the "whooosh whooosh whooosh" of the washing machine. Harold wants more, though, so one morning he ventures into the city, where he discovers an array of unfamiliar noises, some new avian friends, and-most importantly-a sound that's all his own. Dicmas gives Harold plenty of spotlight-hogging star power, whether he's waggling his eyebrows at readers, closing his eyes in contentment as he takes in a bass violin solo, or flashing his plumage, which is painted in thick smudges of green, blue, yellow, and scarlet. The sense of setting is on the light side-in a particularly nice scene, Harold stares at the Eiffel Tower from a quiet, lavender room in his apartment-but Dicmas's airy visuals keep the story and its message buoyant. Ages 3-8. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Harold the parrot can mimic all the sounds in Apartment 4B in Paris: alarm clock, television, blender. Tired of repeating the same old noises, Harold escapes and discovers a world "full of beautiful sounds." Striving for his own "voice," his call produces like-feathered friends. Energetic, uniquely composed illustrations in a rainbow palette perfect for vibrant plumage complement the colorful storytelling. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Harold, a plucky parrot living in Paris, loves to imitate every sound that he hears--but can he find a voice of his own? In apartment 4B, Harold can "flussshh" like the toilet, "vrrrrrrmmm" like the vacuum and even "bweeeee" like the blender. But surely the city has even better sounds. He slips out an open window and can't believe his ears. In an onomatopoetic adventure, he meets the big voice of an ocean liner ("OOOOOOOH!"), the tiny voice of a snail ("shlurrp!") and everything in between. But as beautiful as all of these sounds are, Harold grows tired of imitation. He longs to find his own voice. He takes a deep breath, opens his beak as wide as he canand lets out a screeching "RAWK!" How embarrassing. But that unsightly sound just may bring him a flock of new friends. Debut author/illustrator Dicmas shares a worthy tale, but her use of bright colors and bold brushstrokes are what make Harold really soar. With cocked head, wide eyes and feet that hardly ever touch the ground, this parrot is irrepressibly charming. Children will relate to Harold's struggle of growth and self-acceptance, but as a read-aloud, the sound effects will gleefully trump all. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Harold is a parrot in Paris. He lives in a nice apartment with a view of the Eiffel Tower, and he loves to imitate everything he hears: the alarm clock, coffeemaker, toaster, cell phone, TV, vacuum cleaner, and, especially, the sounds of the dryer whooshing and the toilet flushing. But this is a parrot with a problem. He is tired of mimicking the same old sounds, so he escapes through an open window and voila! he is flying through a symphony of street sounds. In fact, everything seems to have its own voice except for Harold. When he first tries his natural voice (RAWK!), he is horrified. But other parrots soon surround him, clapping their wings for his excellent sound. The domestic and street sounds that fill Dicmas' debut book make it both an engaging and funny read-aloud (and mimic-aloud), not to mention an entree into appreciating the world of sound. The message about finding your own voice has a wonderful vehicle in this comical parrot.--Fletcher, Connie Copyright 2010 Booklist