The Loudness of Sam - Hardcover

Proimos, James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 015202087X ISBN 13: 9780152020873

Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books, 1999

Synopsis

A young boy who has always been allowed to express his feelings as loudly as he wants teaches his Aunt Tillie, who lives in the city, how to do the same. By the author of Joe's Wish. 25,000 first printing. Tour.

About this title

About the Author

JAMES PROIMOS is the author and illustrator of Joe's Wish, The Loudness of Sam, The Many Adventures of Johnny Mutton, and Johnny Mutton, He's So Him! He is also the designer and co-creator of Taco Bell's popular animated spokespets Nacho and Dog, and is the co-creator of "Generation O", an animated show from Sunbow Entertainment/SONY wonder. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 1-Sam's parents love every sound he makes. They never shush him for laughing LOUDLY when he is happy or for crying LOUDLY when he is sad. They don't shush him when he is three, or seven, or older. When Sam visits his Aunt Tillie, he is amazed that with all the many sad and happy things in the city, no one, cries LOUDLY or laughs LOUDLY, especially not Aunt Tillie. Instead, everyone shushes Sam. On the last day of his visit, Aunt Tillie laughs LOUDLY ("HA!") when she sees something funny and cries LOUDLY ("WHA!") when she sees something sad. Aunt Tillie has caught the Loudness of Sam. Now she knows that she will miss the boy when he goes home. On the last day of his visit, he gives her his pet duck for a present. Sam and Aunt Tillie both laugh LOUDLY ("HA!") on the drive home. The wacky story is well matched by the completely absurd, brightly colored cartoon illustrations, which add many ridiculous touches to the story. All of the characters in the illustrations look like misshapen blimps. Most children will identify with a character who loves to be LOUD.
Anne Parker, Milton Public Library, MA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In this refreshing, rambunctious book, stentorian Sam goes to visit his aunt, exchanging his doting parents' home for "the big city," a world of libraries, restaurants and the (comparatively) repressed Aunt Tillie. His permissive parents never hush him: when he laughs for joy, his parents say, "He sounds like a garbage truck slamming into an accordion factory!" and "Beautiful, isn't it?" From his foray into society, Sam doesn't learn that children should be seen and not heard; instead, his aunt learns not to hold in her emotions. The giant mouths and huge letters of Proimos's (Joe's Wish) cartoon artwork more than match the timbre of the story. His neon colors, exploding off the page, make a visual noise of their own, trumpeting the theme throughout Sam's story. Most pleasing of all is Proimos's choice to expose a tight-lipped society rather than to tame emotive Sam. Like Aunt Tillie, readers will discover that Sam's volume is contagiousAthey will laugh out LOUD! Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Proimos (Joe's Wish, 1998), in cartoony pictures, celebrates loud colors, gargantuan mouths, and silly sound effects. Baby Sam has an open mouth the size of an air-raid siren, with a voice to match. His proud parents see only the good side of his noisemaking, and never shush or hush him. When Aunt Tillie (who lives in the big city) invites Sam for a visit, he finds that he loves the variety city life provides, but hates being shushed in libraries, theaters, and restaurants. Luckily Sam's vivacity is catching and both he and Aunt Tillie are soon giggling and chortling out loud. Children will loves this, and the strength of Proimos's illustrations cover for the plot weaknessthe arbitrary assumption that loudness is a country trait, any more than reserve belongs to the city. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 015202087X
• ISBN 13: 9780152020873
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32