Quiet Please, Owen McPhee!

by Trudy Ludwig and Patrice Barton

From the author-illustrator team who brought you The Invisible Boy comes the story of a boy who won't stop talking--until he gets laryngitis. You don't have to be a chatterbox to appreciate this tale of listening and learning.

Owen McPhee doesn't just like to talk, he LOVES to talk. He spends every waking minute chattering away at his teachers, his classmates, his parents, his dog, and even himself. But all that talking can get in the way of listening. And when Owen wakes up with a bad case of laryngitis, it gives him a much-needed opportunity to hear what others have to say.

From the author-illustrator team behind The Invisible Boy comes a bright and lively picture book that captures the social dynamics of a busy classroom while delivering a gentle message about the importance of listening.

• ISBN10: 039955713X
• ISBN13: 9780399557132
• Publish Date: 3 July 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Random House USA Inc
• Imprint: Random House USA Children's Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 40
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780399557132

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

Quiet Please, Owen McPhee! written by Trudy Ludwig and illustrated by Patrice Barton shares the tale of a talkative boy who loses his voice and learns the value of listening. Parents and teachers with a talker in their lives will enjoy this story and the lessons it brings.

Oddly enough Princess Sophia wasn't at all interested in the book when she saw it. Hey, she is three and as a book lover whose occasionally dismissed a book based on the cover; I get it. So, I sat down with Prince Clayton who was more than happy for story time. As I read I could not help but laugh. Owen's non-stop rabblings reminded me of Princess Sophia and her mother. Both are/were non-stop, inquisitive children. As I continued reading aloud and Owen's talking got him into unexpected trouble, a funny thing happened,  Princess Sophia wormed her way up into my lap to see the pictures. LOL.

Owen's talking annoys his friends, causing him to miss important information and ends with his friends yelling in frustration. It baffles poor Owen, but when he wakes up with laryngitis, it provides the perfect opportunity for him to listen to others. I loved the lessons contained within this story and how the children interacted. It was thoughtful and positive in a fun, sometimes silly way that provided teachable moments.

The back of the book contains questions perfect for classroom discussions or a one on one with your little one. Princess Sophia learned about laryngitis and letting others share their ideas. As for Prince Clayton this was a little over his head, but he enjoyed reading with his Nonna and that is a wonderful thing. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer