Holler Loudly

Image of Holler Loudly
Release Date: 
November 10, 2010
Publisher/Imprint: 
Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 
32
Reviewed by: 

Holler Loudly is not a commandment. Neither is it a verb and an adverb paired. Holler Loudly is the name of a boy who , from the time he is born to his parents, Mama and Daddy Loudly, is just doggone LOUD.

He cries too loud [the author does not use the correct adverbial form of the word throughout the text, so we will follow her lead], he pitches toddler fits too loud, he is too loud at school, in the movies, and even when fishing—which blows away his beloved and tolerant (probably half-deaf) Gramps as well as all the catfish.

With undertones of country twang in the text, Ms. Leitich adds an appreciated element of humor: “So LOUD that every hound dog in the county rolled up his ears and tossed back his head to bay,” and “So LOUD that Mama and Daddy, Gramps and Gus, men and women, boys and girls sailed—WhooooSH—plum off their boot heels.”

But then, of course, Holler Loudly’s loudness saves the day—and he learns to appreciate that not everything has to be uttered at glass-shattering decibels.

The illustrations by Barry Gott are full of colorful energy and verve, but stop just this shy of feeling like mass media cartoons.

This fluff of a tale will be a riot to read aloud in library, home, and classroom settings—the kids will love it—but it won’t leave much of a lasting impression.