It's Too Noisy!

Kindergarten-Grade 4-- In this retelling of a Yiddish folktale, Cole has so simplified the text that the tale loses all its poignancy and subtle humor. A poor farmer lives in a small house with his wife, parents, and lots of children. The house is too noisy so the farmer seeks advice from the wise man who tells him to bring the chickens indoors. Every time the farmer complains about noise, the wise man tells him to bring in more animals. His last piece of advice is to send all the animals outside again--and in comparison, the house seems quiet. Duke's illustrations are in keeping with the text. They present the story as a comic romp. Her sturdy blond peasants, rendered in bright watercolors, cavort maniacally. One especially irritating expression--a u-shaped, open-mouthed grin with the eyes drawn up in slits--recurs frequently on their faces. In fact, everyone seems to be having a fine time except the farmer. This compares unfavorably with Margot Zemach's excellent version, It Could Always Be Worse (Farrar, 1977). Her retelling, in both text and pictures, conveys the drudgery of too many people living in a small space and provides a contrast that makes the humor of the Rabbi's solution all the more enjoyable. Children will probably respond to Cole's repetition of the noises in the house and, since they are accustomed to the frenetic action of television, may find humor in the illustrations, but Zemach's version is richer and far more satisfying. --Karen James, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
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